Rediscovering Our Relationship with the Outdoors and Education

“Dad, Owls go hooooooooo” my toddler shouts as she kicks open the front door to the house like a saloon door being rattled by a gunslinger. Brandishing a new hand (temporary) tattoo of an owl and showing it off like I had never seen an owl before. The next 30 minutes was spent with her swooping at me with her owl stuffies, strutting around the kitchen and “hooing” in my ear so much that at one point I though she had decide to continue her life as part of the owl family.

But it did make me think – was I that excited about the outdoors and animals growing up? Did I come back home with unbridled passion for a new animal I only learned about two days ago? The answer was of course, yes. Unfortunately, the older I got the less I spent in the outdoors, not through my parents’ lack of trying, but honestly I was interested in other things at the time.

Throughout this period in my life though, I was always feeling the pull of the outdoors, the call of the wild and it wasn’t until I moved over to the USA that I was hit with another wave of inquisitiveness – so much so that I am still here 15 years later.

Coming back to the feral forest child that my wife and I have created - while I was still recovering from my drive-by-owling, I was thinking about what all of this must look like to her as someone who is more like a hobbit currently. Trees that tower over her, rivers that she would have to build a bridge to get over but for us we could jump, all the smells and textures we experience – all of these have been put through a new lens for me, and it is the lens of discovery, well, for me its re-discovery. Seeing these things through my daughter's eyes for the first time had me thinking about how we teach and introduce these topics in our schools.

We are proud to say that we are also helping to bring more outdoor education to our younger friends in classrooms and outdoor settings across the state to support early development and understanding to support them through their growth. Each time we are able to meet with people and talk about how amazing our world and environment are we are able to find ways to rediscover our relationship with the outdoors and leave knowing that people can’t wait to get out and look for all the things we learned and talked about.

The best part about environmental education for me though is watching someone make the connections themselves and realize the interconnectedness we all share. Plus, you do not have to know EVERYTHING to feel like you are able to enjoy the outdoors. This is none more prevalent than taking my daughter out into the woods to explore or even to watch for different wild animals. She is still at the point where we are learning not to shout “THERE THEY ARE” when she spots them – in her defense though, she is two and she does remember to whisper around 30% of the time. The smile and shine that comes over her when she is allowed to pick up sticks, throw them and play in mud is enough to never want to have to go back home. Each time we go outside however there is no complaint from her when we hit a trail to walk and explore.

Maine is often associated with its rugged coastline, hard working people, around 17 million acres of forest and my favorite part, only about 43 people per square mile. But are we losing our love for the outdoors? For the ones who read our blogs often and anyone who visits our nature center the answer is of course no. However, we are facing times where the outdoors isn’t seen as a safe space for everyone and our comfortability surrounding being in the forest is something that can be daunting without some guidance and support. But that is where we are able to make the biggest changes – rediscovering our love for the outdoors and helping others ignite new passions and creating a sense of wonder again to encourage people to get out and explore.

At the Center for Wildlife we are very excited to be able to share our experiences and knowledge with people all over the state and beyond through our in person or online educational experiences to help instill a sense of belonging and pride in the outdoors. Last year alone over 400 programs across schools, libraries and in communities were conducted with our Education Team and Animal Ambassadors reaching thousands of people.

We are truly lucky to be able to have such an exciting classroom right outside of our doors. A classroom that has no age limits and still is probably one of our most underutilized resources for growth. Nature.

As for my daughter? She will continue rolling in mud, throwing sticks and ask why 20 times an hour – and while it may be the third time showing her how a dandelion seed can dance in the wind when blown, each question that comes to me with a smile and bright eyes are treated like the first and only question I want to answer.