Want a little more insight into what it's like to be an IslandWood EEC Graduate Student? We're featured in the Children & Nature Network's Briefs & Commentary Section! Check it out!
Enjoy!
Riley
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Perspective Stories
Lately, perspective story writing has becoming a staple in my teaching weeks. It provides each student the opportunity to embrace, create, and imagine from a viewpoint far different than our own.
The instructions are simple:
1. Choose a biotic (of life) organism of which you will write from its point of view.
2. Choose an abiotic (not of life) factor to include in your story.
3. Write in a way that alludes to your chosen organism but doesn't immediately give it away.
Every time that I have facilitated this activity I have been blown away at the creativity and talent of my field groups. Here are some writings from last week:
"My branches sway and cones flutter to the ground. Small cones, but not as small as Hemlock's. The wind is music to my ears. My trunk is straight and tall and doesn't sway. It is not moved by the wind. So strong. I smile down at the saplings below, some my own species. Soon the young will be taller than I. My needles dark green closer to the branch and turning more lime green as they reach the end, flutter daintily to the ground. The wind stops its song. The forest stands still. I am at peace."
"My soft tail swings. The breeze goes over my soft fur. A leaf drops from the trees above. I step over the rock by the stream. I kneel down to take a drink. A bird comes down from the top of the Canopy Tower. I run as a human comes at me."
"I sit on the trail. Across, some Sword Ferns. The dirt near me is rich with scattered rocks. A person hikes down the trail and avoids me. I know why. It is because before someone touched my leaves and exclaimed, "OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!" loudly. It startled me! This has happened many times before but one person rubbed Sword Fern on their skin. How strange? Often people are itching when they leave. One one of my leaves was plucked off and rolled into a tiny ball. The person ate it."
No two stories are ever the same. Each story shared is a fresh, unique perspective. The staple continues...
Riley
P.S. If you haven't figured them out already, here are the concealed organisms.
1. Douglas Fir Tree
2. Black-tailed Deer
3. Stinging Nettle
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
La Push It!
This past Friday, 16 of us drove to the Olympic coast for a weekend of camping. Our destination? La Push! West of Olympic National Park, La Push resides at the point where the
Quillayute River empties into the Pacific Ocean. The weather could not
have been better and a wonderful weekend was had by all!
A group of grads birding near one of the rocky outcroppings.
Hole In The Wall! This was our destination for the day. This well-known arch is only passable during low tide.
A trio of grads watching a seal surf the crashing waves.
Much love, much love.
Our group! Thank you to each and every extraordinary individual who made this weekend so enjoyable!
The finale of our Saturday evening. We couldn't have asked for a better day.
What an amazing weekend! Wonderful people, wonderful scenery, and wonderful weather!
It will not soon be forgotten.
Riley
A group of grads birding near one of the rocky outcroppings.
Hole In The Wall! This was our destination for the day. This well-known arch is only passable during low tide.
A trio of grads watching a seal surf the crashing waves.
Much love, much love.
Our group! Thank you to each and every extraordinary individual who made this weekend so enjoyable!
The finale of our Saturday evening. We couldn't have asked for a better day.
What an amazing weekend! Wonderful people, wonderful scenery, and wonderful weather!
It will not soon be forgotten.
Riley
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