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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2018)
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 19 D.I.Y. nature expedition—in your own backyard By T. Lee Brown Correspondent A lucky group of juniors will make it into the high school’s lauded IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) program. The rest of us can create our own small expedi- tions close to home. “As human beings, we are all hardwired to connect with nature,” says nature aware- ness teacher Susan Prince. “It’s not complicated.” You don’t need fancy recreation equipment or special clothes. Start with your five senses and a small chunk of time. 1. Start right now, or plan ahead. Begin in your own gar- den, backyard, or a nearby park. Or drive up a Forest Service road a couple miles from Sisters and see what you find. (Bring snacks and a water bottle.) Really busy today? Take five minutes. Plan on a longer expedition for next week. 2. Step outside—without devices. Prince recommends that you leave your cell phone behind, step outside, and take a few deep breaths to begin. This sounds simple, but in everyday life we often forget to consciously experi- ence our environment. If you need a phone for emergency use, turn it all the way off and bury it in your backpack. Avoid taking photos. “I don’t usually take a cam- era,” says IEE student Cole Blakelock of his outdoor adventures. “If I really want to see that place again, I just go back to it.” 3. Observe “As you relax your mind, notice what you feel, see, and hear,” Prince recommends. “What is the air temperature like on your skin? Is there a particular birdcall that you have been hearing? What direction is it coming from? Sitting quietly allows the animals that live alongside us to start showing them- selves, and if we do this often enough we can begin to observe their patterns.” Your mind may wan- der or fill up with unwel- come thoughts: worrying Serving Sisters Since 1976 For all your building needs right here in Sisters! Lumber • Hardware • Paint • Siding Doors & Windows • Fencing & Decking FREE Local Delivery Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4:30, Closed Sundays 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net Notice of Budget Hearing Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District about work, recalling ran- dom images from an intense movie. Maybe you’re annoyed by airplane noises overhead. Some find it help- ful to acknowledge the intru- sive thought or feeling, then picture it floating away. Return your attention to the natural world around you. Focus on what is real and immediate: the animals, plants, water, leaves, and soil you can smell, hear, see, and touch. “Taking a journal along is a good way to record these events,” notes Prince. 4. Tell your story. Just being outside in nature improves health and lowers stress. More benefits arise afterward, when we integrate that nature time into our lives. “It’s hardwired into humans to tell our sto- ries,” says Prince. “This is how the Kalahari bushmen of Africa teach their children to be seamlessly integrated into their environment. It’s help- ful to share our time outside with others.” IEE students make beau- tiful maps and accordion- fold books based on their PHOTO BY TL BROWN Nature awareness teacher Susan Prince and her canine companion enjoy the sun in Sisters Country. experiences. “It reminded me of how important it is to get away from everything,” wrote Tate Ricker in a rafting trip journal. “No phones for almost three days was amaz- ing. I was surprised how easy it was to go without a phone. I didn’t even miss it.” Leah Chapman wrote, “Being away from all the daily stress was really nice and I was able to focus on being present in the moment. Really living and connect- ing to the outdoors was very See NATURE on page 22 Sisters Farmers Market Fridays 2:00-5:30 p.m. June-September Fir Street Park sistersfarmersmarket.com Veterans’ Services Serving those who’ve served. 541-585-VETS (8387) | www.deschutes.org/vets
