Nature Journal #8 - Final Thoughts

December 5, 2017

               Coming to my last nature class was a sad moment, indeed. I knew that it would be my last class ever with Dr. Williams, and although I was hesitant at first, I really grew to love this class. Everyone’s presentations were so great. I loved how one group described their experiences at the Nature Center by lessons they learned, and I loved the way they set up their presentation. Below you will find my takes on this class and the Nature Center.

Our last day at the Nature Center was fun. Everyone came together at the end to complete our last duties as volunteers. I loved just being outside with everyone, in such an organic classroom atmosphere bonding with one another. As I walked around from dirt pile to dirt pile, enjoying the warm November day, I could hear all sorts of different conversations happening amongst unlikely friends. At first, the one commonality we all had was that we were all enrolled in the same course. We had no idea what to expect since this was the first semester the course was being taught, yet we knew Dr. Williams and Cameron would make it intriguing. Now, after bonding over privet and dirt, friendships have formed among people who may had never crossed paths. I enjoyed being in the company of my group on the Prairie Dog Trail. We could easily talk about the highs and lows of our week while doing somewhat mindless manual labor on our trail. Just being outside always calmed our nerves, even when we may have been dripping in sweat.

During one of our last meetings, we edited some of each other’s nature essays. This class was particularly one of my favorites of the entire semester. It was so interesting reading everyone’s essays with totally different perspectives on nature. Many of us come from out of the state of Texas, growing up in different climates and terrain. Each person is biased towards the familiarity of the nature that surrounded them while growing up. It was interesting to see how that impacted their writing style and ideas. I also loved how some even anthropomorphized some parts of nature. The calming atmosphere of this class, as in every class with Dr. Williams, is such a breath of fresh air for honors students. Each student can put their guard down, yet still have meaningful and productive discussions about nature. No one feels as if they have to force effort into this class. I felt I could bring meaningful topics about my experiences in nature growing up in Kansas, as could one student growing up in Washington.

Overall, I truly learned so much in this class. I never really thought about how fortunate I was to have grown up in nature, with parents who also loved nature. I was able to freely explore the outdoors, not realizing how impactful it was on my human experience. When I came to Texas, at first I missed home dearly because of my friends and family. But then, I started to realize I also missed Kansas because of the distinct four seasons, the unreal sunsets, and going fishing with my dad. I never thought that I would actually miss Kansas for its physical features. However, I have loved exploring parts of Fort Worth and growing to love its own unique beauty. Our time spent at the Nature Center really made me appreciate nature once again. Thank you, Dr. Williams, because the goal you set out to accomplish was met. 

Nature Journal #7 - Zihuatanejo, Mexico

November 22, 2017

               As I am sitting in class, reflecting on how no one will turn on the heat since it was 70 degrees yesterday and I’m freezing, I’m dreaming about a warmer, relaxing climate. My mind takes me to one of my favorite tropical spots: Zihuatanejo, Mexico. My dad and I have been going to Zihuat since I was in 7^th grade, and we always stay at the same hotel each time. The view from the rooms are so serene, and the beach the hotel sits on is quiet and unpopulated. The employees at the hotel make you feel at home. As soon as you walk in, there is a small, bubbling fountain in the middle of the lobby, and someone hands you a cold wash cloth scented with eucalyptus oil. There are no annoying patrons or screaming children here, just peace. The rooms only have air conditioning in one room, while most of them have open-air terraces and living rooms. At night, the crashing waves can lull you to sleep.

               One of the unique employees at the hotel is Miguel, whom we nicknamed Tarzan. Well, Miguel is not really an employee of the hotel, but he helps out the hotel when he can and is able to use their facilities. Miguel was born and raised in Zihuatanejo. Miguel rents out oceanic sporting equipment to tourists on the beach, but he has become quite a legend around Zihuatanejo. From his years on the beach, he has dark tan leathered skin, and a smile that has been brightened by the sun. Miguel is kind to everyone, and understands the ocean well. Like he has said before, “I am one with the ocean.” He understands the ebbs and flows of the ocean, and the gifts and curses the ocean can bring. One day, when my dad and I were lounging on the beach, we met this family who was from Europe. Peace and quiet brought them to Zihuatanejo, the same reasons as us. The wife we had met decided to venture off into the warm ocean water. All of a sudden, however, she fell down and began crying out in pain. Miguel immediately took off after her and carried her back to one of the lounging chairs. The woman had been stung by a sting ray. He then began racing around, making a concoction of sand, sea weed, and other items I cannot remember. He slabbed this elixir onto her foot, and held it their tightly for at least forty-five minutes until a doctor arrived. I always knew Miguel was knowledgeable and kind, but he had truly just performed a selfless and heroic deed. Miguel did not panic and knew exactly how to handle the situation.

               My dad and I also respect Miguel as a human. He has no desire to be monetarily wealthy. He is rich because of his positive perspective on life and belief in God. Miguel, my dad, and I have had many deep conversations, even if Miguel does speak broken English. It’s amazing how you can connect with a person through nature all because they taught you how to paddle board in the ocean or took you on a fishing excursion. Miguel has taught me to appreciate Mother Earth and everything that she gives, and that our time here on Earth is limited. He truly lives each day to the fullest and happiest. He believes there’s no time for negativity because of all of the blessings God has gifted to us. I always love going back down to Mexico and spending time with Miguel, appreciating nature and friendship all in one place.

Nature Journal #6 - FWNC&R Trip 4

November 7, 2017

As we embark on one of our last journeys here at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, I’m kind of sad it’s all coming to an end. Although it does take a long while to drive all the way out to the refuge, it has been a fun time getting to know my classmates, the workers at the refuge, and Dr. Williams and Cameron. On our part of the trail (I’m in Group 3), a large part of the trail had been washed out by rain over time. There were several narrow parts that if an uncoordinated person like me walked through that without paying attention, they could really hurt themselves. It was actually somewhat fun to fill in the washed out trail. It felt like we all had a purpose for helping the Refuge workers with their daily duties. Also, it was much easier having at least half of our class help with its completion.

The steps of creating a new path is quite simple: you just need a shovel, a rake, and a tamper. The workers had already put the dirt in piles by each of the areas that were washed out. Jaclyn and Mary were killing the shovel game, while I helped rake or gave emotional support. The most important step, however, is the tamping part. This packs the dirt together so that it won’t easily wash away after one rainstorm. After multiple visits working with our trail, this one felt the most impactful. We could fully see the effect of our efforts on our trail—making it a much safer and steady path to walk on. I’ve seen multiple elderly people at the Refuge who are just trying to enjoy a nice stroll in nature. Their joy and peace should never be jeopardized because of trail maintenance hazards.

Whenever I’m at the Nature Center, I always think of how my dog Humphrey would absolutely love it out there. There are so many places to explore, and he would be baffled by the buffalo. Humphrey loves the outdoors. In the winter time, he refuses to come inside because he enjoys the cold weather so much. Humphrey is a Bernedoodle, which is a combination of a Standard Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog. Because he has a decently thick coat, he can withstand cold temperatures. In the winter, we have to walk him an extra twenty to thirty minutes longer to make sure he can get all of his energy out of his system. Since I moved to TCU, Humphrey has become my dad’s right-hand-guy. My dad walks outside with Humphrey at least six times a day. I believe having Humphrey also forces my family and me to get outside and enjoy some of the outdoors. Humphrey finds joy in the littlest things, like a pile of leaves, grass, snow, or rain. It doesn’t really snow all that much in Kansas anymore, but when it does, Humphrey will spend hours frolicking around and collecting snow balls on his paws. I believe having active pets can definitely make a dog owner more active, as long as they are willing to be. I know it always gives me the excuse to let things go and just go enjoy some fresh air. I love Humphrey so much and I hate being away from him, but I know my dad takes better care of him than I ever could.

Nature Journal #5 - FWNC&R Trip 3

September 26, 2017

               This particular excursion to the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge was really fun. Although it was still fairly hot, my group and I were able to get so much work done while having fun at the same time. We were able to get some more help from the managers out at the refuge, and he’s the one who gave us the confidence to really start cleaning up the trail. There is a long stretch of fence that has been overtaken by privet and creeper vine, along with honey locust trees (I believe). We boldly decided that we would take on one huge part of this fence and take those suckers out. At first, we were gently cutting away at the vines, trying to take off a little at a time. We eventually were encouraged to just start pulling random branches to try to get the whole piece to come down. At one point, Jaclyn started walking up the trail, pulling a long, windy branch over her shoulder, as we all cheered her on. We were also using much better tools, and were told which tools are better for specific species of plants and trees.

Our employee friend and I got to work going underneath this large intertwined chunk of vines and branches. It became a lesson learned afterwards that I should have definitely worn long-sleeved clothing and more bug spray, but we’ll get to that later. The humidity that day was pretty brutal, but all of us took breaks every now and again. We continued our journey in trying to take out this whole chunk against the fence. Luckily, all five group members were there, so we were all working away at our own parts. The refuge employee was explaining that the privet has overtaken many parts of the nature trails because there could be millions of seeds produced by just a small area of privet. The warm climate in Texas also allows the privet to grow nearly all year round. These perfect conditions have become a nuisance for the employees out at the refuge, which is why our groups are helping them a ton by taking that stuff out.

The employee that was helping us told me that I should just take his hand saw and start sawing off a medium sized branch so we could take a large portion out as one piece. Once he taught me the correct technique, I started sawing away at the branch. I must say, I felt super outdoorsy using this old school hand saw. After taking out this large branch, we were able to take down all the vines and leaves that were attached to that one branch, but we had to be careful because of the locust tree, which has gnarly thorns. The guy told us that he had gotten poked by one of the thorns in his palm while he was working, and when he woke up the next day it was so swollen and infected that he had to go to the doctor and get a steroid shot. We should also be aware of oak mites and chiggers out at the refuge. When I woke up the next morning, I was covered with bites that quickly spread. Luckily, my dad has gotten oak mites in Kansas before, so I knew how to handle the situation. Below, you will see a picture of us working away!

Nature Journal #4 - Overton Park

September 19, 2017

               Because of the severe hot weather, unfortunately I was not able to attend class. If I sit out in the sun for too long without any sort of relief, my symptoms can really flare up. However, I was able to read excerpts from Thoreau and Nash, even if I was not able to discuss the author’s concepts with my classmates. What I found most interesting was the readings from Nash. He uses multiple examples to show of timeline of how Americans perspectives’ of nature have changed. One of the examples that I found to be a bit odd but amusing was the story about the lawyer, Estwick Evans. Evans woke up one morning and decided to leave his life behind in New Hampshire and began heading West in order to find his true self in primitivism in a buffalo robe with bearskin trimming, deer moccasins, and in the company of his two beloved dogs. He writes in his journal that he was able to find peace in solitude, and that he felt a spiritual connection to nature. Evans, as Nash states, was one of the first to implore the idea that nature can be positively associated with religion.

               I believe in modern Christianity that a lot of Christians forge a relationship with God through solitude, and most definitely through solitude in nature. This summer, I was able to travel to Switzerland with just my dad. One of the many beautiful places we stayed at was located on Lake Lucerne in Vitznau. Firstly, the Swiss have remarkable cleaning practices. When you are driving on the highway, there is not a single piece of trash on the side of the roads. Swiss society expects you to keep all of your trash in your vehicles so you can take it home and throw it in your own trash bin. This same expectation comes with boating on Lake Lucerne. The lake and its shores are pristine. When it was a hot day out for Swiss standards, I decided to venture out onto the lake on a paddle board. It was a Monday afternoon, so there were virtually no boats out on the lake. The lake was pretty frigid since it is a glacial lake, but the water clarity is almost unrealistic. The water had the most beautiful bluish-green tint, and I could see for hundreds of feet down. Once I paddled away from the hotel shores, the world became quiet, and all I could hear was my paddle swishing through the water, and waves lapping up against my board. In that moment, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the lake and the mountains surrounding it. I was also just so grateful for the experience and memories I was making with my dad. The amazing part was that I was experiencing the handiwork of the Lord in a personal way. It was a definite spiritual moment for me because the God who created the most picturesque places in the world loves me and wants to have a relationship with me! I think I paddled for at least for 45 more minutes, just sitting in awe. The whole country of Switzerland is so remarkably beautiful, and I cannot wait to go back one day. Maybe Nash should write from the perspective of the Swiss.

Nature Journal #3 - FWNC&R Trip 2

September 12, 2017

               Since I received a migraine from the previous visit to the FWNC&R, I came well-prepared with a cooling neck tie, Gatorade, water, and a hat. Because of my chronic illness, I am fairly sensitive to Texas heat, especially cutting town tree limbs or cutting privet in direct sunlight in the heat of the day. During this visit, I felt we were more prepared and knew what to expect from our volunteer work. The first visit was filled with a lot of confusion and sweat, but this time it was just a lot more sweat. The employees out at the refuge also gave us more direction of what they wanted. For example, they told us that they would like the paths to be cut back two to three feet on both sides so they are able to drive their tractor to mow the grass on the sides of the trail. The hard part about volunteering at the refuge is, personally, I don’t have a ton of upper body strength. It requires a lot of effort to use heavy shears to cut off a decently thick tree limb. Luckily, with the help of the rest of my group and Dr. Williams, we are able to make some headway on our part of the trail.

               One of the head managers also introduced himself to us since he wasn’t there the week prior. He is the kindest man who has expansive knowledge about native Texan trees and plants. His previous job was working as a land manager for private owners looking to boost their chances of landing the biggest buck of the season. Because of his experience, he can easily tell when and where deer have been on the trail. He pointed to some recently eaten privet that a deer had snacked on. Just days after a deer had eaten a little bit off the top of the privet vine, new tiny, bright green leaves were starting to sprout. Privet and creeper vines can grow rapidly and destroy other trees and limbs, as we see on our part of the trail. The manager was saying how it would be in his best interest to potentially just burn all of the underbrush and dead limbs on the trails in order to clear everything out. The privet and creeper vines have completely overtaken parts of the trail as time has passed. Because privet can spread so quickly, it’s also hard for the land managers out at the refuge to keep up with the growing issue. See the cute picture below of my wonderful group members and Dr. Williams!

               At our property in Kansas, my dad also does controlled burns on our land every one to two years. Burning our land to complete black ash ensures that invasive weeds are completely destroyed and the native grassland can continue to live on in its pure beauty. Sometimes this is much easier than taking the spray bottle of Roundup all around the property. Plus, it can be an amazing, contrasting site to see what is usually green or honey colored all turn to black. One of my favorite pictures of all time is a picture of my black Bernedoodle dog, Humphrey, taking a stretch after my dad and him had spent the day burning our property. Humphrey loves to go to Rago—if my dad brings out his truck or puts on his work boots, Humphrey starts to go ballistic. I have also attached a picture of this beloved picture I am speaking of below.

Nature Journal #2 - Botanic Gardens

September 5, 2017

            I was amped to go to the Botanic Gardens for class today because of how beautiful the Botanic Gardens are. The City of Fort Worth makes an incredible effort to ensure that the Gardens are always pristine. I hadn’t been to the Gardens since I was a freshman at TCU, taking headshots for my sorority. I also came prepared and excited to talk about our readings for the week. Sitting in the circle with all of my classmates, with birds chirping in the background and a breeze blowing through the air was ideal. Only at TCU would you be able to find a class and professor who appreciates nature and wants to change up the classroom environment. The Botanic Gardens seem so serene because of their closeness to the heart of Fort Worth. The ability to get away from the hustle and bustle of Texas traffic and college life is so intriguing, especially because people seem to find colorful flowers and green grasses extremely peaceful. I love how anyone can walk around and find a spot to take some deep breaths.

Out of the readings for this week, the Meriwether Lewis writings stood out to me, in particular. His descriptions of the beautiful scenes were spoken so well, especially the scene about the waterfall. On page 102, Lewis says the waterfall is “flying up in jets of sparkling foam.” Although I have only seen smaller waterfalls in person, I do wish to one day go to Niagara falls, or the falls that Lewis was depicting in his journal. Lewis also describes the land in the Western U.S. as being completely covered with elk, buffalo, deer, “woolves,” and antelopes. In Kansas, they are hundreds of miles that are purely covered by just the Great Plains. I wish I could have lived in a period where we probably wouldn’t be able to travel without coming across thousands of buffalo, just seeing it with my own eyes. It’s sad to know that humans are the sole reason for the near extinction of our native animals.

Lewis also speaks a lot about being along a river, which I have a lot of experience doing whilst fly fishing in Colorado. Every year, we go to a ranch in Meeker, Colorado, which is the North West part of Colorado. The ranch covers thousands and thousands of acres of the flat top mountains that haven’t been developed, so when you go a couple miles upriver, you’re embarking into nature’s world. Although the land isn’t covered with herds of buffalo and elk, thousands of acres are privately owned and protected. While walking to a fly fishing beat, you can spot elk herds, deer, bears, moose, chipmunks…you name it. My favorite picnic spots are those where you just plop down a lawn chair and a cooler and have lunch right by the river. Although it gets pretty hot in late July in Colorado, the chilly 55 degree river water cools you down pretty quickly. Going to the Ranch is my go-to get away for clearing my mind and soul. Because the land has been so well taken care of, you are definitely a guest of Mother Nature, not the sole owner of her.