Final Presentation Justification: Ana Benitez, Jenna Busby, Cole Parker, and Autumn Rae

Treks & Texts Justification 

  

    As the fall semester wraps up, our team chose to film our video in a documentary format to establish a holistic reflection of our time in Treks & Texts. Our video details the many places where we can indulge in nature in Fort Worth. Each area was specifically chosen to visit to reflect on our learnings from Treks & Texts carefully. We then concluded our travels by meeting at the Fort Worth Water Gardens, where we all unanimously love to experience nature. Throughout our video, we discuss many themes, connections, and takeaways from a truly fantastic course.  

  

    Throughout the course, we had the opportunity to reflect on our experiences in different natural environments. This was especially the case in our written blogs, where we learned how to write effectively about our connection with nature in various places. For example, our canoeing adventure on Benbrook Lake was indescribable. However, these opportunities helped us improve our writing and observational skills. Now, we will be ready to document our natural encounters in the future.   

  

    Additionally, we found significant resonance in the wisdom of authors like Abbey and Thoreau, whose profound writings we explored in class. They struck an emotional chord with their emphasis on materialism, simplicity, and resisting the fast-paced nature of our society. Mary Oliver's teachings served as an additional reminder of the value of taking it slow, spending time in nature, and discovering an appreciation for our everyday beauty. During our five weeks of volunteer work at the Nature Reserve this semester, we had a transformative pause from the never-ending demands of technology and the hustle and bustle of daily life. We disconnected from technology while we served and connected to the park's peacefulness, establishing connections with one another and the natural world.  

  

    Without a doubt, Mary Oliver helped us in a challenging time with the demands on our lives to find beauty and sacred peace in the mundane tasks of daily life. A few of us stated how they would text and walk to class; now, after the inspirational teachings from this course, we put our phones away and paid attention to the simplicity of nature around us, as they found beauty among the chaos. Therefore, this semester was a profound reminder to stop, savor, and appreciate the changing leaves, the gentle breeze, and the tranquility that unfolds when we take the time to connect with nature on a mindful, spiritual level. 

  

    Furthermore, our video touches on nature being a force of interconnectivity. Interconnectivity holds extreme importance when discussing the success of all life on Earth. Nature teaches us that humans play a significant role in the environment while depending on natural forces to help us survive. We must adapt and adjust to nature as time passes because nature is ever-changing regardless of our intentions. Therefore, Treks & Texts highlights our world's reality while engaging us in ideas where we are not the center of the universe. The idea of humans being minute to the grander schemes of life makes us take the time to appreciate life and the world around us from a new perspective.  

  

    Lastly, this semester's key takeaway was appreciating the "ordinary" in life. As discussed in several readings, especially with Thoreau and Abbey, there is something special about being outside, despite how "mundane" it may appear. Our various experiences, both through text and lived, have taught us to appreciate all around us a little more. To enjoy nature for how it is and how it will forever be.    

  

    In conclusion, Treks & Texts provided us with immeasurable insight into the world we live in with ever-lasting life lessons that we each will carry on. This course brought us new experiences and fun memories, all of which have shaped a new outlook on life in a transformative way. We hope our documentary fully demonstrates this newfound appreciation and understanding of nature through Dr. Williams's exceptional guidance! 

Thank you for everything!

Final Presentation Video: Ana Benitez, Jenna Busby, Cole Parker, and Autumn Rae

 

https://youtu.be/52T_lD-8dAc

Mary Oliver Poem 6: Why I Wake Early

A Sunrise Painted by Me!

The sunrise is a beautiful phenomenon that occurs every morning around the same time to wake the lands and start our days. Sometimes, you can feel the warmth touch your face as the sun pours through your bedroom. Sunrises in Texas, specifically, bring such fulfillment. It's the little things that mean the most to me…

Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver is my favorite poem as I instantly can resonate with her joy from watching the sunrise. I love how she paints the image of a beautiful sunrise, signifying a new opportunity. I love sunrises as seeing the sun in the morning always puts a smile on my face and insinuates a grateful mindset. Mary Oliver describes how the sun impacts humans and everything on the planet. She says the tulips receive the sunshine, and even the grumpiest people are still graced with the beautiful sun. 

I found the emotional impact within this small poem because I can genuinely connect to the feeling of happiness from the sun. Oliver states that the sun "…just happens to be where you are in the universe," detailing that the sun always shines wherever you may be. The sweet emotions I feel from the sun impact my outlook on life. Every day is an opportunity to be happy and kind to others. The sun is what protects us from forever darkness. The sun represents hope and taking the initiative to follow your dreams every single day. 

Oliver mentions that the sun is the "best preacher there ever was," which means that the sun represents so much more than just being an entity of nature. This idea of the sun being a preacher conveys that nature empathizes not only with our physical world but also with our mental health and well-being. I always feel energized, motivated, and blessed when I open my curtains each morning to view a fantastic sight.

In addition, there's a spiritual component as Oliver compares the sun to a "preacher...with warm touching hands of light". The sun can be viewed as a spiritual essence that can soothe current stressors or encourage us to be the best version of ourselves. Much like a religion, the daily routine of the sun rising opens our minds to believing in a higher power. The sun can be a sort of vessel for connecting with God. God is with you through the everlasting sun. Nature being a source of spirituality and connection to something beyond our physical world is a common theme through Treks and Texts. Thinking about nature critically enlightens you to appreciate nature's beauty and be thankful for the sun that shines as the sun urges us to live a life of righteousness. 

Without a doubt, I think of this poem during every sunrise with the notion that we are all blessed with such a welcoming and warm sight every morning. This poem highlights the importance of showing kindness to others and the wonderful world we live in. We need to cherish nature and be tender with our actions daily. Mary Oliver's message to her audience is to view the sun as a symbol of spiritual power that influences us to start each day with compassion and gratitude. 

My Ten Best Photos: Fall 2023

Journal 10: Loren Eiseley & Mary Oliver Reflection

Mary Oliver

 Loren Eiseley 

              

After reading The Judgement of the Birds in preparation for Tuesday's discussion, I noticed various connections to the Mary Oliver poem "Entering the Kingdom" that I had to reflect upon for my final blog. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Eiseley's work. His insights on the interconnectedness between humans and nature are noteworthy as he depicts the crow's perspective of humans. Quotes like "I saw the judgment upon life, and that it was not passed by men" display how human perspective and opinion should not be the only consideration on this planet. Other organisms, like crows, deserve a say in the functioning of nature. 

Eiseley leaves with the fact of spreading awareness of how humans have negatively impacted the world and a warning to establish a balance between us and nature, or else we might regret it in the future. This dark tone written within the text uses crows to send this message to the audience. I believe crows are used because we naturally associate crows with death and sorrow. Both describe crows as birds that "Avoid humanity," as Oliver expresses, "They know me for what I am." because crows have a particular dislike for people. Crows are seen as distant creatures that are linked with their own species. Although crows differ significantly from humans, their collectiveness and resentfulness against other species mirrors human behavior. 

Moving on, Eiseley uses crows to set a dark theme and tone. Mary Oliver emulates the use of crows in her short poem "Entering the Kingdom." In this piece, she expresses the point of view of a crow staring down at herself. "Possibly dangerous," she states about how crows look on humans. Crows are envisioned to be the judges of human behavior in both texts. Each author has a pessimistic standpoint on human activities impacting the performance and essence of nature. Oliver believes that people should "...learn something by being nothing," and Eiseley signifies that people "...tend to take it [nature] for granted." Their views on humans determining the fate of nature ring loudly as the authors believe that human activity will ultimately cause the end of everything.  

Furthermore, I enjoyed how each describes the crows in abundance that tend to settle high in the trees to establish distance from people. Both works recognize large groups of crows equating to a "kingdom," which I found interesting because we associate many of one entity with having lots of power. In both readings, the crows have more influence than the humans. I think the term "kingdom" is used to resemble a religious sanctuary. Kingdoms often refer to a palace or a place of religious significance, which could imply that Oliver and Eiseley perceived nature as a spiritual form. Eiseley states that nature is "a commonplace of all religious thought," which means that spending time in nature can allow you to experience religious renewal.  

Lastly, as writers, Mary Oliver and Loren Eiseley also have many likes. Not only does their writing about crows and human impact align, but both writers strived to convert their everyday observations into purpose. Mary Oliver was known for sharing her mundane nature experiences with the world. To compare, Eiseley was the same way as he believed that nature could be anywhere, even in New York. He spotted birds right outside of the window sill of his home and took appreciation for a spider making her web along a lamp post. Both authors display the beauty of nature in the simplest terms. This theme of finding beauty in nature anywhere from anything sends a thought-provoking idea to the audience. Both want the audience to be kind to nature and relish the beauty of the little things that nature has to offer.

  
To conclude my reflection on the two authors and my time in Treks & Texts, I learned to truly, deeply understand nature and appreciate everything for its worth. We as people need to consider the planet a separate entity and take care of nature as much as nature takes care of us. We all have a role on this Earth and a mission to be empathic and interconnected to live in great harmony.  

"The wilderness in the hope of learning of great events, or plans in store for him, that will resuscitate his waning taste for life" ~ Loren Eiseley, The Judgement of Birds 

Journal 9: Samson Park: Nature Observation

My family and I took a trip to Sansom Park, where we walked along the trails and let nature encompass us in a stress-free zone. Taking these nature walks with my parents has been a true joy as I have been able to explore nature with them and discuss my learnings from Treks and Texts. While on this walk, we discussed the importance of nature and how tranquil setting yourself in nature can be. 

I remember this trip well as we spotted a few deer hiding behind a large tree. I smiled as seeing wildlife along this trail had been foreign to me until now. The deer was particularly skittish, and once the deer noticed my camera zooming in, the deer dashed away quickly. The sight of one deer encouraged me to look for its friends. I was happy to learn that this deer was not alone and, in fact, had two other deer accompanying him. Watching from a far distance now, I tried to snap photos, but some other hikers startled them away. 

Seeing these deer within 15 feet astonished me because I had never been that close to a deer before. Usually, I spot them when in the car as they try to cross the road. However, being nearby made me think about our discussion about conservation and appreciating the wilderness. In that moment of locking eyes with the deer, I understood the timidness since a human was so close. I loved watching the deer stagger away into the depths of nature as a retreat or safe space, similar to how my family and I venture into nature in hopes of a retreat to relaxation. It's all about balance.

This scene of the deer and I reminded me of our discussion over Leopold's Land Ethic. The Land Ethic was described as a policy that humans should treat the land with respect as the land is of equal importance to any other organism. The Land Ethic led me to encapsulate the deer and its quietness instead of trying to provoke or instill fear in the deer. I didn't mind being feet away from the deer. I understand the mutual respect for nature and humanity. 

Along with the deer, I spotted many dried bushels and grasses. The grasses were low on the ground but were in abundance. When overlooking the trail's edge, Lake Worth was glittering as the sunlight beamed into the water. What took my breath away was the plentiful trees that seemed to span for miles. The greens of the trees merged into a massive span of land and captivated me as I spotted true beauty. Trees express a sense of resilience and hope as they live for centuries and play a significant role in the ecosystem. In a place like Texas, where the weather is primarily hot and drought is a common concern, you would think these green trees would be nonexistent. The trees symbolize adaptability as they must have a mechanism to retain water to keep their leaves looking prime. 

Connecting my experience to Aldo Leopold, I believe that Sansom Park is an example of the "Thinking like a mountain" idea because the ecosystem that exists in the park has been native to this area for lifespans. Although urbanization does exist throughout the perimeter of Sansom Park, the wildlife present can exist and co-exist with the development of artificial systems. The trees that resonated throughout Sansom Park are the "mountain" in this area because the trees have been there for centuries. Therefore, my gratitude towards the trees, deer, and other species in this biotic community is endless because these ecosystems thrived through persistence and adaptability, which is a heavy task that should be noticed by humans. 

Overall, my time walking through Samson Park was rewarding and thought-provoking because I have developed a deep and empathic understanding of the areas that make genuine efforts to preserve natural habitats. As Stegner professed, we need to take action to conserve and protect nature at all costs because, without it, we would be lost as a species. I remember his comment comparing the land to a beehive and the people as bees. If the beehive were to be disrupted, then the bees would be impacted as well. This is true with nature, as humans will be negatively affected if we don't care for our planet. People must come together as a community to spread the word on conservation and reflect on their actions to make changes that will benefit the good of all life. 

Thanks for reading my post! Have a great day!

Mary Oliver Poem 5: Entering The Kingdom

The poem Entering The Kingdom was appealing to me because of the title of the poem. A kingdom is something of value, respect, and treasure. Mary Oliver treats nature as her kingdom. I initially thought this poem would be about interacting with a dangerous animal, like a lion or bear. Still, the idea of a kingdom of crows sparked some interest because I have seen hundreds swarm together in movies and real life. Crows typically represent sadness or disappointing emotions, and I thought this poem captured these ideas well…but with a twist.

Crows have the reputation of a scary bird as they are all black and look almost menacing. Therefore, I liked how Mary Oliver swapped the perspectives and displayed the crow’s fear of her. She writes the crows thinking, “Possibly dangerous”. I think she is trying to convey to her audience that other animals, like birds, have an analytical ability and fear us. The tense tone in the poem contradicted many of her other poems. Humans are painted in a hostile and alarming sense. We are what nature is scared of. This notion makes sense as humans have ultimately negatively impacted the environment with fossil fuels, extreme waste, and overpopulation, to name a few. 

My favorite quote from this poem is, “To learn something by doing nothing.” I empathize with this quote because nature can sometimes entail doing nothing to gain knowledge. I think about my experiences in nature and how sometimes I would sit on a bench, look at the environment around me, and learn so much. I believe using nature as a source of education can benefit us in understanding our world and our surroundings. The author wants us, as a collective, to do nothing with nature so we can learn as a society. Oliver continues to express that the crows “…know me for I am…No eater of leaves.” I think this quote is to show that the crows do fear humans because of the damage we have done. The crows view us as outsiders of nature, an entity that doesn’t belong…

Overall, the poem displays a perspective that humans are so far removed from nature that we never are entirely a part of the “kingdom” that nature is…