Journal #3: Literary Response to a Quote

"We make the world we live in and shape the environment." -Orison Swett Marden

I feel that this quote is very true and that its message is overlooked too often in our society. Each human being that walks this earth must realize that they have a responsibility toward their own environment. With this being said, I don't think anyone should take a clean and safe earth for granted. I think it happens too often in today's world where people have the attitude that "I am just one person. What difference can I really make?" I personally feel this is a 'glass half-empty' attitude and it should be looked at differently. Not only can one person make a big difference by the choices they make, but they must realize that their choices can influence others. Whether these are good or bad choices, others will notice them and the attitude of the people making these choices and this can definitely have an impact on the environment.

Continuing with the idea that individual environmental actions have influence on others, I think the most common application is when young children watch the action of adults. The teaching profession definitely illustrates this, as educators must realize that their students are watching their every move, and listening to the words they speak. Teachers can certainly take a proactive approach to shaping the environment by providing a good example for their students. They also can inspire them to take their own action, such as planting a tree, recycling, and not littering. These are just a few of the many suggestions a teacher can make to their students. They also can make a huge impact by setting a good example, through actions such as turning off the lights when the classroom is not in use, unplugging unused electronics, disposing of waste, etc.

This quote has a deep connection to environmental science, but definitely can be applied in other aspects of school and life as well. For instance, I think this could be applied in schools in social situations, such as anti-bullying. Students must realize that the way they treat others 'makes the world they live' and can influence the atmosphere or 'environment' of the school. Students and Teachers can also approach this quote from an individual perspective, and connect it to personal academics. Students can realize that they can make their own career and future through the effort and hard-work that they put in. No matter how this quote is interpreted, it involves personal devotion by an individual, as a way to promote common good for many. With this being said, this is what I feel makes this quote so powerful.

Journal #2: Story Telling of an Experience in Nature

Recently, my brother and I took advantage of the beautiful early fall weather and took a hike through Schmeeckle Reserve here in Stevens Point. We did this on 4 separate evenings last week, going after dinner. This was very beneficial for the both of us, as not only was it great exercise, but it gave us a chance to appreciate the scenery and beauty of the Schmeeckle Reserve. With my brother being in Biology this semester, and myself being in NRES 370, we were able to see some of the terms and concepts discussed in class, in a real-life setting, such as ecosystems, energy, etc.

It seemed that each night we took our walk through the Schmeeckle trails, we witnessed something different, or that we had not noticed before. First of all, I noticed that even though it was sunny and warm outside, this was not the case back in the deeper parts of the reserve. As we hiked further onto the trail, the temperatures were much cooler and it was a little breezier. I also was able to see that the water in Lake Joanis was very calm and clear. In the past when I have walked through Schmeeckle, such as in the early spring, the water has not been quite so clear, looking a little "murky." Perhaps the most interesting I gathered from these evening hikes was the behavior of the animals on the trails. Animals that are generally very timid and docile, such as deer, squirrels and chipmunks, appeared to have a higher tolerance for being around people. For example, there was a group of about four male college students walking ahead of us, when two deer appeared about 50 feet ahead of them on the trail. The deer stood there, staring at the students. A few of the students began to walk toward the deer, coming as close as about 10 feet and the deer stood their ground. Once the students got a little closer than this, the deer ran away. However, I thought this was neat because normally deer would not allow humans to come so close. In another instance, we had a chipmunk run right out in front of us on the trail to cross over to the other side of the forest. In all likelihood, these animals have grown accustomed to frequent humans walking through this reserve. But at the same time, I thought it was interesting that they have a higher tolerance and threshold for dealing with humans.

Documenting an experience like this is definitely something I could use in my future classroom. I also feel I could use it several different subjects, not just a science class. I think sharing life experiences with classmates and teachers is important and beneficial for young students. Being outdoors is a hobby of mine, and as a result I will encourage students to share their outdoor experiences, either verbally or written. Also, as a teacher it is a big priority of mine to promote students to use hobbies and things they enjoy in their school work. With that being said, I want to give students of plenty of opportunities to express their thoughts, such as in a personal journal like this one. The aspect of sharing an experience in nature that I think is very powerful is that it can be shared in a variety of ways, such as in a powerpoint, scrapbook, journal, a verbal story-telling, and much more. It is important to me that allow students many different ways to share their work, not just in environmental education, but in all areas of study.

Journal #1

I am looking forward to Natural Resources 370 this semester, as I am looking to improve my environmental literacy as I become an elementary level teacher. I want to be able to encourage my students to take pride in their environment and make safe and healthy decisions. Recently, I took an in-class survey to assess my content knowledge about the environment. Participating in this made me realize that there are so many details about the environment that I would like to dig deeper into this semester. As this semester progresses, it is a priority of mine to improve my environmental literacy, to benefit myself and my future students.

While taking this environmental survey, I realized that I have the basic knowledge when it comes to saving energy, and keeping the earth clean and green. Concepts such as recycling plastic bottles, unplugging unused appliances, etc. I practice on a daily basis. However, when it came to the more specific concepts of the environment, I felt I was a little uneducated. In a recent class lecture, one of our PowerPoint slides indicated that 80% of Americans are heavily influenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths. At the current time, I feel I would fall into this category. A goal of mine this semester is to pay greater attention to detail when participating in activities in this course, and whenever I am out in nature.

I anticipate a significant difference in the results of my survey when it is conducted at the end of the semester. To this point in my academic career, I really have not taken any classes involving natural resources or the environment. As a future educator of young children, it is very important to me that I am able to educate them on the world around them, and the impact they can have on it. Many people have the attitude that says "I'm just one person.. what can I do to improve the environment?" I think teachers and students alike should work together to change this attitude. I am very interested in what my feeling will be when taking this environmental survey at the end of the semester.