PATHWAYS

Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association

www.nysoea.org • 607. 591.6422 • Winter 2018
Image courtesy of Green Chimneys
 NYSOEA Executive Board
President – Eric Powers
VP Administration – Elizabeth Young
In this Issue…
VP Communications & Technology – Jessica Kratz
They say the past may be life’s greatest teacher. Whether your
VP Human Resources – Kathryn Brill
experiences span decades, or today has taught you something
VP of Programs – Megan Hoffman
new, the past is a guide and an inspiration for the future. And
Secretary – Sunny Corrao as the new year starts, it ushers in a time for remembrance
Treasurer – Elizabeth Van Acker of years gone by and planning for the year to come. Winter
Office - Darleen Lieber 2018 PATHWAYS is ringing in this new year with articles of
reflection and change, written by some of our oldest members
Regional Directors as they reflect how things have evolved in outdoor education
over the years (but also how they have stayed the same!) at
Eastern – Rebecca Shultz
such organizations as Stony Kill Farm, Green Chimneys, and
Metro – Jonathan Billig even NYSOEA itself. These articles give a respectful nod to our
Northern – Brian DeGroat & Tracy Thomas ever-changing times, with some encouragement and advice
Western – Shannon Morley for the future, a hearty welcome to new staff and members,
Central – Josh Teeter and the reminder that change is as natural as the woodpecker’s
drumming. As NYSOEA celebrates 50 years, we hope that the
2018 Conference Chair new year finds you with new opportunities to share nature with
others and time to reflect on your favorite experiences outside.
Flo Mauro
Nancy Reichert Table of Contents

3 President’s Message
Pathways
4 Solid Roots
Chief Editor
Amanda Levine 6 Solid Roots: Learning on Skis
Issue Editors
9 The 2018 Conference Save the Date
Jill Eisenstein
Jessica Kratz 10 Affiliate Spotlight: Green Chimneys
Graphic Designer
13 Drumroll, Please
Matthew Fraher
14 Meet our New Board Members
Content Editors
Jill Eisenstein 15 From New Memeber to Board Member
Frank Knight
Darleen Lieber 16 Reflections of a NYSOEA Newcomer
Maren Morsch
20 Award Winners from the 2017 Conference
Webmaster
Phil Berkowitz 23 Meet our New Chief Editor

Communications & Technology Committee 24 Operation Explore & Stony Kill Farm
Jill Eisenstein
27 A Broader View
Members at Large
Sarah Conley 28 Thoughts from an Elder
Margaret Maruschak
Carol Guerreri Rogers 29 Poem: Trees and Winter...and Me!
Katie Finch
30 Expanding our Worldview of Nature Education:
Shannon Morley
An Imperative of our Times

2 Pathways Winter 2018

President’s Message
I recently returned from Kenya, where a very different kind of
experience with nature allowed me to see that nature education
is similar around the globe.

Working with orphaned baby elephants is certainly one of the most

thrilling things I’ve ever done. Just like human children, these highly
social mammals need protection, constant feedings, plenty of exercise,
and must be taught to do… well, just about everything! They even have
to learn how to use their trunks just like babies have to learn how to
use their hands. And as I’m out in the bush walking with these baby
elephants I am their teacher at this moment. Try tearing down on this
shrub to break the branch better, or twizzle the clump of grass this way
so you can grasp it with your tiny trunk. Spending so much time with
these elephants and their steadfast caretakers, I realized that it all boils
down to one-on-one teaching about nature…it works with people and
it works with baby elephants.

Serengeti National Park offers a walk-through zoo/museum that

presents local wildlife and history. But rather than send us to walk
alone, a docent was assigned to take us through. Having a park
naturalist provide information, background, and history added
a wonderful dimension to our educational experience.

We also had the privilege of meeting several adult giraffes at a

Giraffe Sanctuary. What I liked most about the place was the quick
education program they offered as groups entered. They kept group
sizes small for a more intimate educational experience. We learned
so much in a 15-minute program and all our questions were
answered with enthusiasm.

As outdoor and environmental educators, we share our experiences

and incorporate these new ideas into our own programs and centers.
How can we educate the masses, knowing that quality education
happens best in small groups? Small groups, focused one-on-one
teaching, guiding the student’s experience… these are the ideas I
will now seek to incorporate.

We are both teachers and lifelong students. As keepers of the Earth,

I feel that our super power is sharing. In this issue of PATHWAYS, other
educators share their experiences and programs to help us continue to
learn and grow. In 2018, I encourage each of you to submit an article
to PATHWAYS about your favorite or new education experience… and
continue the cycle of sharing.

Happy New Year!

Eric Powers Eric Powers
President, NYSOEA
president@nysoea.org

Pathways Winter 2018 3

 Solid Roots
About fifty years ago, a few educators realized that
outdoor experiences had been gradually eroding from
our NYS educational system. Not only students but the
entire culture would suffer if something did not change!

The roots of our organization are the educators that

got it started and the ones that continue to nourish its
growth. Like a tree, NYSOEA can only grow as large and
healthy as its roots grow deep and wide. For nearly 50
years, our roots have kept us anchored in the richness
of the outdoors and helped us stay strong. We continue
to draw inspiration from this commitment, tenacity,
and vision.

In light of the upcoming 50th anniversary, we have

decided to reprint a few articles from NYSOEA’s very
own publication dating back to March of 1969-- once
known as the The Outdoor Communicator and later
renamed Pathways to Outdoor Communication-- to
help us learn from, appreciate, and continue to be
strengthened by our solid roots as we continue to grow.

4
Written by Carole Louise Neidich
This article originally appeared in NYSOEA’s Outdoor Communicator,
1980- Volume XI, Number 2.
Sure it’s fun to attend interpretive programs on balmy summer
days and cool, crisp autumn afternoons, but what about
winter? Although the temperature and weather conditions
may be quite severe there are many natural wonders to
be seen and no crowds. To the displeasure of an anxious
interpretive staff, the latter means too few visitors.
What gimmick can possibly draw people out on a dark and
snowy winter’s day? One answer is Nordic skiing or cross-
country skiing. Woodsmen and other north country folk have
long known about the benefits of “skinny skiing”; however this
sport has only become popular in recent years.
As an interpretive tool, Nordic skiing is ideal. Once people can
be pried from their TV sets, outfitted with skis and taught a few
Pathways Winter 2018
basic maneuvers, “painless education” happens naturally as
people become curious and want to discover the winter world.
A good subject to begin an interpretive nature ski (instead of
walk) is snow, the medium on which we ski. What kinds of
snow can we find on a snowy afternoon? A few precooled
microscope slides and a hand lens will tell us a great deal
about how the snow in our storm was formed. Each of the
seven common shapes of snow crystals is determined by air
temperature and humidity during crystal formation.
Once snow reaches the ground, it is affected by our daily
weather. Whatever wax we use on our skis depends on the
type of snow on the ground. Cold, new or dry snows have
tiny “points” which “grab’ the ski wax. This means that a hard
wax can be used on the ski bottoms. Warm, old or wet snows
do not have these points and therefore a softer “stickier” wax
must be used.
5
After looking at the snow some members of the group may
say, “so what, I have waxless skis”, however, it is important
to know a little about waxing in case you ever need to in an
emergency. No skis are completely waxless.
Now that we have decided which wax to choose for the day,
we are off- sometimes gliding effortlessly and sometimes
falling flat on our faces, but experiencing “snow ecology”
nonetheless.
As we pass over a frozen red maple swamp, we keep a
watchful eye for the winter “flea olympics”. A youngster
perks up with, “I found them!” and our group of ten forms a
semicircle around black, pepper-like specks hopping around
on the snow. These are springtails, Achorutes nivicolus;
primitive, wingless insects which inhabit the soil’s surface.
On warm winter days when the snow melts around the bases
of trees, springtails can be found on the snow near exposed
leaves. Members of the Collembola insect order, springtails
have two appendages on their last body segment which
enable them to move about in a hopping manner. Although
they are not related to fleas, this method of locomotion is
responsible for their misnomer, “snow flea”.
Our group proceeds deeper into the forest and silence
overwhelms us. We ski up a hill and swiftly glide down
under cathedral-like arches formed by hemlock and spruce
branches weighed down by snow and stop to rest at an
opening in the trail. It is easy to see why many animals,
especially deer are attracted to spruce groves in winter.
Spruce trees can hold much snow in their branches and
dense foliage protects animals from the full force of the wind.
While standing here, admiring the beauty of these stately
trees, a block of black-capped chickadees can be heard
calling to one another up ahead. As we move closer, we see
these small birds moving along the tree branches, carefully
inspecting them for dormant insects upon which they feed.
As the chickadees move out of sight, evening grosbeaks fly
overhead, reminding us that this winter is especially severe.
Many species of birds generally found in more northern areas
have begun to appear at our preserve.
We ski out of the small valley and enter a stand of mixed
deciduous trees. A dead, standing tree captures our attention
and we try to see how many evidences of animal life we can
find there. Near the top of the tree trunk are several holes
where cavity-nesting downy woodpeckers have raised their
young the prevvious summer. An abandoned northern
oriole nest dangles precariously from the branches above
the trail. As we gather closer to the trunk of the tree where
several pieces of bark have fallen off, someone makes note
of etchings on the exposed wood. These tunnels were made
by bark beetles, insects which spend most of their life cycle
under bark or boring into wood.
A hole in the base of the trunk is noticed. A small pile of
sawdust found on the bottom of the hole is evidence that
a colony of carpenter ants is at work, slowly recycling the
nutrients in the tree. From the configuration of the branches,
we determine that the tree was a rather old maple, and we
wonder about some of the historical events that had taken
place during the tree’s lifetime.
After eating a snack of gorp and sipping some water, we
gather our packs and ski along the trail into a group of fallow
farm fields. Some fields have been undisturbed for 25 years
and others have been mowed every other year. As we attempt
to negotiate a rather narrow trail between two birch members are anxious to ski off and search for other
trees, someone trips on a protruding branch and signs of fox. Only deer and squirrel tracks are
exclaims from a sitting position, “Hey, look at found in the fresh snow and a now tired
these little bird-like things in the snow.” We ski group begins to ski northward toward
back to assist and spend some time examining the nature center.
the “birch doves”, last fall’s mature seeds,
which had dropped on the snow. To rally the group for a brisk ski
to the center, we move toward a
The afternoon disappears quickly in the rather enticing, gently-sloping
winter and we decide to head back to the hillside. Here we can all ski
nature center to reach the building for the fun of it and conjure
before dusk. Skiing through open up dreams of being Olympic
field areas, we watch several ski racers, performing parallel
American goldfinches turns or envision ourselves as
land on a few dry thistle wilderness guides gliding down
seed heads that protrude a back-country hill in traditional
through the snow. Telemark fashion, one leg in front
Contrary to the pictures of the other ,and poles and arms
on most holiday cards, in an out-stretched position. We
goldfinches are not bright set up an easy slalom course,
yellow and black in the each turn marked by day packs
winter; these are summer and field guide books and each
breeding colors. In winter, person tries her or his hand at a
both sexes of goldfinches new found skill of turn-making.
are dull olive-yellow with
blackish wings bars. We return to the nature center,
stack the skis and poles and
Before the group starts up clump inside. A reddish glow
again, we pause to look at on everyone’s cheeks tells us the air
some insect galls found on temperature is dropping outside and the
goldenrod plants in the field. smiles tell us we have been successful in
Galls are responses of plants introducing a group of suburbanites to the
to insects and are used by wonders of the winter world.
insects developing inside them
for food and protection. Once an A fire is lit in the Nature Center fireplace
insect hatches out of a gall, it very and we settle down for a well-deserved
often becomes a home for other snack. As the fire crackles, one of the
species of insects and spiders. park interpreters recounts tales of the
We cut open an elliptical legendary Snowshoe Thompson,
goldenrod gall and reveal the a nineteenth century “postman” from
shed pupal skin of its maker, a moth, Gnorimoschema Placerville, California who, travelling on skis weighing
gallaesolidaginis. Many species of flies, wasps, moths, 25 pounds, delivered eighty-pound sacks of mail to other
and even fungi can cause gall formation in plants, however towns in the mountains, some 90 miles away.
there is a definite relationship between species of gall and
As the fire burns down in the fireplace, we finish our
gall maker.
Interpretive Ski Tour. We bid goodnight to our group and a
At the edge of the field, several dogbane plants can be few stay to help us close the nature center for the night in
identified by their long seedpods which have dried and trade for a short moonlight ski through the woods.
twisted open. In each pod there are seeds with silk-like
Tomorrow, when we write a report about today’s activities,
threads attached to one end. These threads act as parachutes
including our accomplishment of teaching and behavioral
and enable the seeds to be transported by wind.
objectives, we will know we were successful. Even more
As we ski over a crosstrail leading from the woods, important than the educational rhetoric with which we fill our
a rather strong odor pierces the crisp winter air. “I smell a reports, we have touched the hearts of a few human beings.
fox,” sounds from the rear of the group and several group Tomorrow, we will lead another group.

Pathways Fall 2017 Cartoon by Kate Segall, courtesy of New York Birders 7
CAROLE LOUISE NEIDICH is Curator of Life Sciences for the
Nassau County Museum of the Nassau Department of Parks
and Recreation and in this capacity serves as Supervisor of
the Tackapausha Museum and Preserve in Seaford, New York
11782. She has been a Nordic skier since 1976. She writes
poetry, plays music and carves things out of wood. She holds
an MS degree in biology from Adelphi University in Garden
City, New York, and in 1980 was named Conservationist of the
Year by the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society.
8 "Patterns of Winter" courtesy of Wayne Trimm
KATE SEGALL two years ago transferred her art locale from
Long Island to the Catskills where her husband, Rhett, is a
teacher.
Editor’s Note: Nowadays, many centers have snowshoes for
loan or rent, providing an additional option for exploring and
enjoying the outdoors in winter.
Pathways Winter 2018
 New York State Outdoor Education Association
50th Annual Conference

50 Years of Educating Outdoors

For more information and to volunteer to present a workshop,

visit: nysoea.org/conference

Questions? Contact: conferencecommittee2018@nysoea.org

Pathways Winter 2018 9

 Affiliate Spotlight

Green Chimneys
Written by Margaret Maruschak

10 Pathways Winter 2018


F
ounded in 1947, Green Chimneys is world-
renowned for its innovative programs for special
needs students. Headquartered in Brewster, it
added a second campus in Carmel ten years
ago. At both locations, part of the curriculum
includes experiential education and therapies
incorporating animal-assisted and nature-based activities.
Together, these two unique campuses offer a wide array of
services to children, young adults, and the local community.
The 350-acre wooded Green Chimneys Clearpool Campus
in Carmel hosted the 2017 NYSOEA Conference, where
attendees enjoyed ample classroom space, overnight cabins,
a stone amphitheater-style campfire ring, and a large dining
hall for meals and meetings. Some of the workshops at the
conference took advantage of the lake, fields, and many
hiking trails on site. One was conducted in the Clearpool
Pathways Winter 2018 Photo opposite: Staff and student work together on farm
Ari, Dixie, & Dinky with School in Background
Model Forest, a portion of the facility’s woodlands officially
designated for forest stewardship and includes the human
interactions within the forest.
The Green Chimneys Clearpool Campus hosts school
groups in all seasons, where the staff teaches environmental
education programs including aquatic studies, forestry topics,
geology, farm discovery, maple sugaring, and ornithology.
Adventure programs are also popular. Groups may choose
activities such as the sensory awareness trail, hiking, boating,
raft building, and high and low ropes adventure courses.
Its active involvement with the local community includes
summer camp for area youth, weekend nature activities and
events for families, and facilities for adult conference and
retreat groups.
11
 Both the Clearpool campus and the nearby Brewster campus
are sites for Green Chimneys School, a therapeutic school that
serves 240 special needs children whose educational needs
are best met in a non-traditional school setting. In addition,
Brewster has a Residential Treatment Center that serves 102
of those students who require a higher level of care. Both
programs offer individualized educational resources so that
each child can realize his or her full potential.

Animals and nature play a very special role in the students’

Clydesdale Mac and Volunteer
education and therapies and nearly 300 farm animals, horses,
permanently disabled birds of prey and other wildlife reside at
the Farm & Wildlife Center on the Brewster campus. Children
develop critical life skills, responsibility, and self-esteem
when taking care of the animals and during animal therapy
interactions. The students also learn vegetable farming, and
maple syrup and honey production in the school gardens
and at nearby Boni-Bel Organic Farm. Older children have the
opportunity to work at the Country Store to sell the products
produced at Boni-Bel.

Green Chimneys also serves youth and families across

Putnam County with social services and outreach to at-risk
youth. The Community Outreach Center in Brewster Village
offers children and teens a safe place to go during out of
school hours, career readiness skills, anger management and
other support groups, and community service opportunities.
Arbor House is a short-term shelter and support service for
youth that may be displaced or homeless.

Please visit their website at greenchimneys.org to discover

more about the services and opportunities that this
organization offers to children and the local communities.

NYSOEA would like to thank Green Chimneys for its

generosity to our membership at the 2017 Conference. The
staff was warm, friendly, and amazingly accommodating. We
also thank Green Chimneys for its continuing support as an
Affiliate Member and valuable partner in outdoor education.
Green Chimneys is truly a “village helping to raise the child”.

Bo Peep the sheep

12 Pathways Winter 2018

The Outside Story:

Drumroll, Please
Written by Bryan Pfeiffer

Trees speak many languages, their leaves whooshing in

summer and trunks creaking in winter. At the onset of
spring, trees become sounding boards for courtship. Before
the thrushes and warblers and sparrows arrive to sing from
branches and boughs, woodpeckers kick off the spring chorus with
a drumroll.

Although woodpeckers certainly vocalize, usually with sharp calls or

harsh chattering, drumming is one of the most reliable early signs of
spring – a proclamation of territoriality and an advertisement to the
opposite sex.

Drumming is not to be confused with the arrhythmic tapping we hear from

woodpeckers (and other cavity nesters like chickadees and nuthatches)
as they excavate nest sites or forage for insects in bark. No, the
drumroll, performed by males and females alike, is a force of nature
– and fairly diagnostic to species. With a little practice, you can
identify woodpeckers just by their drumming patterns.

An easy parlor trick, sure to impress your pals in the sugarbush

this spring, is to identify a distant yellow-bellied sapsucker. Now
returning in migration, sapsuckers drum like no other woodpecker
– not really a roll, but more like Morse code: a stuttered opening,
and then steady tapping that slows in cadence and wanders away.
Sapsuckers begin with bravado and end with reticence: Ta-tapity-
tap…tap–tap–tap…tap…tap….

There is no such reserve in the drum of a pileated woodpecker, our

biggest head-banger, the one with the flaming crest. Pileateds drum
with power, and that makes their drumroll relatively easy to distinguish.
They often pound away high on a snag or big tree, producing a deep,
resonant roll that lasts for three seconds or so. In a pileated’s drum, you
often feel a hollow tree’s girth and age.

From here, the identification gets a bit more difficult. Your first real test in
drumming class is to discern the drumrolls of the most widespread and
abundant woodpeckers on the continent: downy and hairy. They look alike
and they drum alike: a classic rapid roll.

But the bigger of the two species, the hairy woodpecker, drums faster and longer.
A hairy’s drum lasts on average for a full second, and includes about 26 beats (plus
or minus a few) in each rendition. The taps roll by so fast that you can just barely
discern each one.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Reprinted with permission from Northern Woodlands magazine.

Original article appeared in the April 28, 2017 Educators’ eNewsletter.

Pathways Winter 2018 13

Drumroll, Please (cont'd)
The downy’s drumroll last about
three-quarters of a second, but with
half as many beats – about 13 on
average. Yes, it’s still a drumroll, still
Meet the New
fast. But in the downy’s performance
(a staccato) you can pick out each tap
and sense a pause in between.
Board Members:
One other way to tell the two apart
is that the downy seems more
enterprising. It generally offers you
nine to 16 drumrolls per minute
during breeding season, pausing
only a few second between each
rendition. From the hairy woodpecker,
you might only hear half as many
drumrolls per minute — about four to
nine of them.

I tend to lump our other common

woodpeckers —the red-bellied
woodpecker and northern flicker—
into an “average drummers” category,
not particularly fast or slow or
distinctive. This makes them tougher
to identify, but once you learn the
easier drums, you’ll start to recognize
that these two rolls are somewhat
recognizable. Our two boreal
woodpeckers—American three-toed
and black-backed—tend to drum at
an average pace, as well. But they
sometimes prefer dead softwoods for
their broadcasts, so their drums often
sound a bit hollow.
These are all subtle distinctions. But
woodpeckers, like the trees on which
they tap, have distinctive voices. They
shout their identities year-round. If
only the trees, in their rustling and
creaking, were as distinctive.
Bryan Pfeiffer is an author, wildlife
photographer, guide, and consulting
naturalist who specializes in birds
and insects. He lives in Montpelier,
Vermont. The illustration for this
column was drawn by Adelaide
Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned
and edited by Northern Woodlands
magazine, and sponsored by the
Wellborn Ecology Fund of New
Hampshire Charitable Foundation:
wellborn@nhcf.org.
Tracy Thomas
Northern Region co-chair
Tracy Thomas is the Executive Director
of The Nicandri Nature Center in
Massena, NY. Prior to that, she was the
Manager of Visitor Experience at The
Wild Center in Tupper Lake, where
she spent ten years managing visitor
services and enjoying sharing outdoor
adventures with the public. Tracy is a
Certified Volunteer Administrator, and
working with volunteers remains one
of her favorite parts of running a nature
center. When not teaching outdoor
education, managing daily operations,
or working with volunteers, Tracy
enjoys hiking, kayaking, adventure
activities, and time with her incredibly
goofy dog, Cader
. she was sworn in as VP of Programs
Email Tracy at:
northern_region@nysoea.org
Megan Hoffman
VP of Programs
Megan, originally from the Adirondacks
region, began her passion for all things
“outdoors” at a young age, hiking
mountains and swimming in lakes
with her family. She found her way to
the Mid-Hudson Valley in 2012 when
she began her career in the Outdoor
Education field. After attending her first
NYSOEA conference in 2012, she fell in
love with the organization and the field
of Environmental/Outdoor Education.
She has worked teaching the public
about native wildlife for the past 6 years
and now teaches Garden Education
for students in the Beacon City School
District. After acting as a member of the
Development Committee for 4 years,
for the Board of Directors in 2017. She
has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Zoology from SUNY Oswego, with a
minor in Biocultural Anthropology. Her
commitment to creating stewards of
the environment shows in her everyday
interactions with children and adults
alike! During her free time, she enjoys
making soap, gardening, and traveling
whenever possible.

14 Pathways Winter 2018

From New Member to Board Member:
Here is My Story!
Written by By Megan Hoffman,
Vice President of Programs, NYSOEA, Garden Educator, Hudson Valley Seed
I remember the 2012 NYSOEA conference like it was
yesterday. I had just worked my way up to a full time position
in the outdoor education field. I was expecting the conference
to mimic what I had seen on television. I imagined drinking
a lot of coffee to stay awake while boring people held lecture
after lecture. I didn’t know that something titled a “conference”
could possibly be host to a community of inspiring people
that would show me the incredible value of environmental
education. This conference changed the trajectory of my
career in a million ways.
I can recall the panic as I entered the Brookhaven National
Laboratory, feeling like the workshops would be interesting
but also knowing that finding strangers to sit with at lunch
was going to be stressful. After walking through those doors,
I couldn’t believe how many people made eye contact and
smiled at me right away. After finishing the first workshop, I
had made at least five new friends and learned two new best
practices-not a bad start!
When Saturday evening rolled around, the energy of the
conference increased to a new level. There was the cocktail
hour and award banquet, followed by the live auction. I was
pulled in to assist with displaying the auction items by one of
my new contacts, MaryLynne Malone, who also
Megan Hoffman, Jane Rausch, and Jan Humbert of the Development
Committee received the Appreciation Award at the 2015 NYSOEA
Conference, Sharpe Reservation.
Pathways Winter 2018 Left photo courtesy of Eileen Beare; Right photo courtesy of Alexander Lotz Photography.
happened to be a past NYSOEA President. I was in the right
place, at the right time, to make myself helpful. This was
my first taste of what it was like to serve as a member of the
Development Committee. This is the committee of people
who work hard to get items donated for the auctions, as a
way to raise money for the organization. I couldn’t believe
that I could be a part of something bigger than me while also
having fun. After assisting with this first auction, I became
an official member of the Development Committee and
continue to help with auctions to this day. I quickly became
an integral part of the NYSOEA community. After assisting the
organization in a few capacities, I was offered a position on
the Board of Directors. I am now VP of Programs and assist
a team of amazing individuals to plan and carry out the
annual fall conference among many other important
behind-the-scenes tasks.
By the end of that three day conference, in 2012, I felt
like I had an entire community standing next to me and
was equipped to teach weeks of new ideas and lessons.
Six years later, I look forward to every conference as a way
to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. I cannot
wait to see what this community will teach me next. I look
forward to offering that first smile and a seat at the lunch
table for new NYSOEA friends.
President Eric Powers swearing in new Board members (L to R):
Megan Hoffman, VP of Programs; Rebecca Schultz, Eastern Region
Representative; Tracy Thomas, Northern Region Co-Representative.
15
Reflections of a
NYSOEA Newcomer
Reflections of a
Writing and Photos by Alexander Lotz

Hello fellow conservationists and friends,

I spent the majority of 2017 with the Excelsior Conservation Corps-Student Conservation Association
(SCA) program serving as an environmental educator in New York State Parks. I had the opportunity to
travel the entire state and live out of a tent alongside my crew mates. We spent our work weeks teaching
outdoor education programs to the public who were camping alongside us. As our year began winding
down, my SCA coordinator informed my crew and I that we would be attending the 2017 NYSOEA
conference as a work trip. This is the story of my time spent at the conference.

EXPECTATIONS
True excitement and energy gripped me as I learned there
were options to meditate and learn about nature when
I started browsing the NYSOEA website to look at the
workshops being offered. Workshops such as, “How to
Connect People to Nature through Mindfulness” inspired me
inside. Carving wooden spoons and listening to a storyteller
would be on the agenda. On Saturday, there was going
to be a field trip to a local Buddhist monastery. I began to
realize that this conference was going to be entertaining and
enlightening. When I discovered the NYSOEA would match
well with my professional endeavors, it became much more
appealing and enticing to me.
EXPERIENCE
I found a variety of workshops which were informative and
thought-provoking. I arrived at the conference ready to take
in everything that there was to offer: the people, the sights,
the workshops, and the entertainment— with enthusiasm
and open ears.
Once Hudson Valley Corps SCA program wrapped up their
recognition ceremony on Thursday, we were led down a
winding path to the site of our first experience at the NYSOEA
conference. Brent Feldweg brought his portable sawmill to
the Green Chimneys Clearpool Campus to show us how to
cut dimensional lumber in the backcountry.

I was convinced it was well worth the drive across the state
for a weekend of wisdom and enlightenment.

16 Pathways Winter 2018

 Jonathan Billig and Robert Lieblein’s program on
“Mindfulness in Nature” started my morning on
Friday. This dynamic duo was able to introduce
mindfulness in nature with methods and tools that
were accessible and fun. I had a blast leading a
“WOW” hike where we walked through the stunning
forest at Green Chimneys, pointing and proclaiming After lunch, my cohorts and I whittled away at cedar
“WOW!” at moments of wonder and enchantment. We branches with instruction from Snapper Petta of
had a truly magical moment, staring upward through SUNY Oneonta. Using our virtues of patience and
the skylight of a yurt, watching the birds fly across our precision, all of us personalized our wooden carvings
natural television. into useable spoons or art pieces. This photo shows
Erin McCabe with her finished product, lathered in
olive oil and crafted with love.

Pathways Winter 2018 17

 On Saturday, I had the opportunity to listen to the
keynote speaker Mark Morey talk about connecting
youth to the outdoors. Mark presented the idea that
we should allow children to explore in nature, get their
hands dirty, and answer their own questions about
the natural world through their own observations.
Mark promoted viscerally intimate moments in nature
for children to give them the opportunity to grow
organically alongside the ever-changing environment.
After his speech, I was asked to come up on stage with
Mark and sing “Aloha ke Akua” by Nahko and Medicine
for the People in front of the entire attendance of the
conference. I am so grateful for Mark and his openness
to song as an educational tool for outdoor educators.

As everyone sat down to eat dinner on Saturday night,

I took a moment to play my Tibetan singing bowl for
the conference attendees. I asked to let this experience
signify a moment of reflection and gratitude for
the people and experiences we had that weekend.
This moment gave me the opportunity to share
my appreciation for NYSOEA and all the wonderful
humans involved in the production
of this gathering.

Afterward, I helped facilitate the hilarious and

entertaining live auction. Running around the room, I
convinced the audience to buy items like wine baskets
and giant teddy bears which they may not have needed
but bought nonetheless to support NYSOEA.  We
wrapped up the night in style with a NYSOEA bonfire,
sing-alongs, and garbage-can-bongo playing under
the stars. I was in heaven singing folk songs alongside
the outdoor educators that I had worked with
throughout the year and looked up to as leaders in their
profession.

18 Pathways Winter 2018

 TAKE AWAYS
I will always remember what felt like a week, but was
only a weekend, for the 2017 NYSOEA conference. I
was able to make lasting connections with some of the
leading outdoor educators in New York, some of whom
I am collaborating with today. I found a community
of positive, uplifting spirits who gave me a sense of
belonging in this turbulent world we live in. I gained
valuable skills and tools to connect audiences of all ages
to their natural world, and I made the acquaintance of
many who I am proud to now call
my friends. Thank you to all who put in the effort
to make the conference this year a success.

Here is a photograph of some professional outdoor

educators that I convinced to be silly for the camera
during Saturday night’s festivities. It didn’t take much
effort for them to be convinced.

From left: Jonathan Billig, Metro Region chair; Eric Powers, President; Brian DeGroat, Northern Region Representative;
Josh Teeter, Central Region Representative; Kate Phipps, VP for Human Resources

Pathways Winter 2018 19

2017 NYSOEA
Award Winners
ART & LITERARY AWARD
Given for outstanding artistic or literary ability demonstrated by publication, scholarly
pursuits or other creative art achievements related to outdoor education. This year,
NYSOEA had three recipients of this award:
Anita Sanchez
The award recognized Anita as a prolific author of well-
researched and informative books about natural history,
including plants and how they fit into the botanical,
ornithological and medical history of the world. She is the
former director Educational Programming at the DEC’s Five
Rivers Environmental Center in Albany, has worked for the
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation at education
centers across the state, and continues to teach at museums,
arboreta, schools and libraries.
20
Her first book The Teeth of the Lion: The Story of the Beloved
and Despised Dandelion (The McDonald & Woodward
Publishing Company, 2006) champions the sometimes-
maligned lawn weed. Her most recent books, Wait Till it Gets
Dark: A Kid’s Guide to Exploring the Night, written with her
husband, George Steele (Muddy Boots, October 2017), and
Karl, Get Out of the Garden! Carolus Linnaeus and the Naming
of Everything (Charlesbridge Publishing, March 2017) entice
readers of all ages to get outside explore our surroundings
more closely. Because they are so well researched and
written, many of her books make fascinating reference
books for naturalists.
Pathways Winter 2018
 Robin (center) with Metro/Eastern Region Book Club participants following a book talk at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, February 2017.

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin Wall Kimmerer, a professor of Environmental and
Forest Biology at the State University of New York College of
Environmental Science and Forestry, was given this award for
her insightful and inspiring books that foster an appreciation
and greater understanding of the natural world.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific
Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (2013) inspired the
NYSOEA Metro/Eastern Region Book Club. She is the author
of numerous scientific articles and another book, Gathering
Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses (2003). She was
honored for bridging European and Indigenous cultures with
spiritual, cultural and scientific understanding of ecosystems
and the plant and animal communities that sustain us.

Jessica Kratz
This award recognized Jessica for her commitment
to NYSOEA publications, spoken word poetry, and art
activism in Staten Island. She was also honored for being
an accomplished poet and the author of two children’s
books related to natural and cultural history.

In 2016, she competed on Staten Island’s first slam poetry

team at the National Poetry Slam, Decatur GA, with a poem,
“What Will I Smell Like at the End of My Shift?”, looking
at some of the more humorous aspects of working in
environmental education. She is on the Organizing Council
of Advanced Poetry, which sends performance poets to
regional and national competition, and as Coordinator of
the Greenbelt Nature Center, she recently curated a
retrospective of public art in the Greenbelt, in conjunction
with the 50th Anniversary of Public Art in NYC Parks.

Jessica has edited PATHWAYS since the fall of 2010, and just
recently stepped down as Chief Editor. She is currently the
VP of Communications on the NYSOEA Board.
Jessica at the OutdoorFest 5K, Staten Island NY, June 2017

Pathways Winter 2018 21

2017 NYSOEA
Award Winners
JULIAN SMITH STUDENT AWARD
Presented to deserving undergraduate or graduate students who have shown a
commitment to outdoor education through study, leadership, volunteer work and
seasonal employment.

Xue Dong (second from left) received the Julian Smith Student Award from Marty Strong, Awards Committee,
Jessica Kratz, VP for Communications, and Eric Powers, President, at the 2017 Conference, October 2017.

Xue Dong
Xue is a PhD student in Environmental Biology, focusing on
Environmental Education and Interpretation, at the University
of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Xue received the Julian Smith Student Award for outstanding
scholarship, leadership, and commitment to outdoor
education.
Her many accomplishments include being responsible for
creating and organizing community groups, webinars and
face-to-face meetings as a Community Group Leader for the
Climate Change Science, Action, and Communication online
course of Cornell University, and developing augmented
reality games to teach environmental education.
Xue has maintained a GPA over 3.6 while also keeping up
a busy schedule of presenting, networking, volunteering,
and submitting works for publication. Her papers have
been published or are scheduled to be published in Biology
Teaching, Environment and Sustainable Development,
Environmental Education, Journal of Distance Education,
Legacy, and several other publications. One of her two articles
published in Pathways, the quarterly publication of NYSOEA,
inspired a “Nature Tech” strand at the 2017 conference. In
addition to presenting, “Development of Innovative Practice
in Environmental Education through Augmented Reality
Games” at the NYSOEA annual conference, she has also
served as a presenter and proposal reviewer for the North
American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE),
and a judge and abstract reviewer for National Association
for Interpretation (NAI).

22 Pathways Winter 2018

APPRECIATION AWARD
Presented to a NYSOEA member who has contributed to
the growth and/or betterment of the organization by the
President of the organization.
Jonathan hiking one of New York State’s finest forests in autumn
Jonathan Billig
Jonathan Billig, School Programs Educator at Wave Hill,
was awarded NYSOEA’s Appreciation Award for his energy,
enthusiasm, vision and dedication to the organization as
Regional Chair for the Metro Region as well as his founding
and coordination of the NYSOEA Metro and Eastern Region
Book Club.
He has been integral to the running of Winter Weekend in the
Metro Region for two years, and in 2017, played a pivotal role
in promoting and supporting the Annual Conference, forging
a partnership with the Environmental Education Advisory
Council to increase promotion, outreach, and participation
from New York City. His organization and moderation of the
Book Club allowed members to participate through multiple
platforms and provided a meaningful experience for
educators at various stages of their lives and careers.
Pathways Winter 2018
Meet Our New
Chief Editor!
Amanda Levine
Chief Editor, PATHWAYS
Amanda Levine graduated from Stony Brook
University with her Bachelor of Science degree in
Marine Vertebrate Biology and Environmental Studies
in 2013, and returned to Stony Brook to graduate
with her Master’s in Marine Conservation and Policy
in 2015. During her studies, Amanda worked with
organizations to educate the public about marine
issues and wildlife, including the Long Island
Aquarium and Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery. She
explored ways to connect with not only the public,
but policy makers, government, and educators.
One of her favorite means of teaching is through art,
using scientific illustrations to teach and bring her
students to places where they cannot venture– like
the bottom of the ocean. Her art has been featured
in a number of galleries in the tri-state area, most
recently in Queens’ New York Hall of Science.
Currently the social media manager for the Center
for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED)
on Long Island, and a fishery observer with the
National Marine Fisheries Service, Amanda is excited
to deepen her experience in science writing and help
the PATHWAYS team present a wonderfully helpful
product to educators across New York.
23
Operation
Explore &
Role in Environmental Education in the Hudson Valley
Stony Kill
Farm's
Written by Stacey Lynch Adnams,
Program Director

Summer campers going on a fishing expedition at the Sierra Trail. Photo by Stacey Lynch Adnams
24 Pathways Winter 2018

I
nitiated in 1976, the Operation Explore Program
(OPEX) was established by the New York
State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (OPRHP), the New York City Board of
Education, the National Park Service at Gateway
National Recreation Area and Cornell University
Cooperative Extension as a way for New York City public
school students to experience environmental education and
stewardship in an outdoor setting based in the Hudson Valley.
In 1984, The New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYS DEC) joined the partnership along with
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection
in 1992. The program has served over 40,000 students,
teachers and parents.
As the longest running environmental education program in
New York City, OPEX offers public school children in grades
4, 5, 6, and 7 the opportunity to visit a working farm and
spend two days and nights at a NYS Park Facility. Taconic
Outdoor Education Center hosts the school groups and
provides overnight accommodations, meals, and an enriching
education program. In 2011, due to the fiscal crisis, the Stony
Pathways Winter 2018
Two of our summer campers dressed in beekeeper suits during a honey
bee lesson. Photo by Lisa Kilmer.
Kill Foundation resumed management of the program from
the DEC, along with the day-to-day operations at Stony
Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls. Students begin their OPEX
experience with a day visit at the historical Stony Kill Farm
and are taken through four education modules that focus on
the livestock and farm history, the watershed and the Hudson
River, corn and Johnny cakes, and plants and growing in
the greenhouse. Educators encourage our visiting students
to interact with the animals, help to make the Johnny cakes,
and plant seeds for an experiment. This year, Stony Kill’s
education program will modify its lesson plans with some
new additions to our facility. Our visiting cow will be available
for milking demonstrations and a possible cheese making
lesson that incorporates science and math tools and our new
classroom observation beehive will give students an up close
presentation of the behavior of honey bees.
Over the years, New York City public school students
have been treated to an enriching program that offers
them the opportunity to escape their urban environment
and experience a rural setting that many of them have
never been exposed to. For many, this is the first time they
25
 Visiting students learning about our sheep.
Photo by Stacey Lynch Adnams
are sleeping away from home, meeting a cow in person, or
watching how maple syrup is made and where it comes from.
As a center for agricultural and environmental education,
Stony Kill has offered programs to local area schools as well.
Since the farm is located in lower Dutchess County, we are a
central location for field trips and visiting organizations and
are a unique education center that offers various programs
in agriculture, environmental studies, and history. Located
on almost 1,000 acres of land that includes grazing pastures,
growing fields, trails and ponds, Stony Kill has over 200 years
of history under its belt. Buildings on site include a tenant
farmhouse, barn and Manor House that were built in the
early 1800’s and serve as housing for the animals, a museum
and office space. The property was deeded to the DEC in the
1970’s under the conditions that it would always be used for
agricultural purposes.
In addition to our school education programs, the farm
is also host to several public events, workshops, and
26
School groups digging for worms to add to our
compost bin. Photo by Lisa Kilmer.
membership and volunteer programs. In July, visitors are
treated to the Butterfly Festival that includes butterfly filled
tents and Monarch life cycle with real chrysalis and caterpillars
on display. Each weekend, the barn is open for visitors to see
our livestock up close with volunteers on hand to answer
questions. With a local interest in homesteading, we maintain
a Beekeepers Association as a resource for area beekeepers
and those interested in the conservation of our pollinators.
For 40 years there has been an outstanding partnership with
the OPEX program and Stony Kill Farm. The real benefit is to
the children from all five boroughs of New York City, giving
them an expanded view of the world and the contrasting
environments surrounding the city. The memories they create
and the stories they bring home to their friends and family
goes beyond just environmental education. It teaches the
children where their food comes from, how varying parts of
the ecosystem interact, and maybe it inspires them to learn
more about all this wonderful world has to offer.
Pathways Winter 2018
 A Broader View
Guest Editorial by Frank Knight
‘Tis said that reaching 80 entitles crankiness: “Why didn’t
anyone teach those people to safely bike on the right and
walk on the left?!” Nostalgia, however, is more heart-friendly,
and I find myself increasingly reflecting on my life-shaping
experiences.
Reading Stacey Lynch Adnams’ Operation Explore (OPEX)
story about Stony Kill Farm’s decades of bridging the city/
country divide in outdoor education, opened a flood of
memories of my early 1980s Stony Kill tenure.
While the NYC children ground meal from ear corn in a
19th century grinder (think giant hand coffee mill) to make
Johnny cakes, we diffused the tedium by asking them about
sweetcorn. They were astonished that their great- or great-
great-grandparents were likely the first to enjoy corn on the
cob. NY’s Iroquois exploited the more-sugar-than-starch
natural mutation they had discovered, called Papoon, and
finally shared with westerners about 1795. Unripe Papoon
had to be eaten immediately before sugar reverted to starch.
Not until Super sweetcorn was developed in Indiana after
WWII with long enough farm to market shelf life was it widely
available. Farmstand, frozen, and canned corn were all I knew
as a child. Guided by well-trained, enthusiastic docents,
OPEX students returned to the City from their full day at
Stony Kill knowing their food didn’t originate on store shelves
and in dairy cases. Learning more about OPEX in a phone
conversation with Stacey, it was interesting to learn how
similar the OPEX program is today to the earliest years.
Pathways Winter 2018
A SMALL CITY KID
Stacey-inspired, I then began reflecting on all my other
farming experiences. Growing up in Corning, NY, I very early
learned where food came from on my parent’s plot in the
large employee WWII Victory Gardens the Glass Works leased
from a farmer. Summer Saturdays were spent playing with a
friend on his family’s dairy farm. There I first experienced the
rich, sweet smell of ensilage, the slightly fermented corn plant
chopped and stored in a silo to feed livestock. I grew to enjoy
the smell more with each subsequent farm experience. Are
odors a part of your earliest memories? I recall a weed’s odor
I experienced at age 5 which haunted me for decades until I
identified it as a rank smelling sage and wormwood relative.
Then I was off to the Agricultural College at Cornell where
as a non-farmer I had to fulfill a summer farm practice
requirement; I learned what manual labor and adult
responsibility were on a dairy farm at Angola, NY. All of
these experiences have enriched my teaching and writing,
deepening my understanding of the close ties between
natural and cultural history.
Another example: normally reluctant to tackle projects well
outside my expertise, I eagerly agreed to write a series on
plants of the Bible. I would learn much about foods of long
ago and far away. I was not only impressed to learn that the
seven basic Biblical foods (Deuteronomy 8:7-8) are still a part
of healthy modern diets, but how vital were ancient food
storage techniques, especially in frequent drought and
famine years?
So, don’t wait until retirement to become nostalgic. Take the
broader view now and let all your experiences enrich your
personal and professional life.
27
Outdoor Education
Thoughts from an Elder
Written by Dan Kriesberg
During college, I was a waterfront
director at a sleep-away camp and
loved it. When my post-college job
search led me to residential outdoor
education centers, I was thrilled. It
was summer camp all year round!
Twenty-five years later, after being a
naturalist, a 4th grade teacher, a science
teacher, an environmental education
consultant, and having seen outdoor
environmental education programs
from the perspective of both a parent
and a teacher, I have decided this all
makes me an Outdoor/Environmental
Education elder. And it
is from this vantage point that I am
sharing my thoughts here.
First, what you are doing matters; this
work matters. Be proud. The world
needs outdoor education now more
than ever. The world needs citizens
with the knowledge, awareness, and
desire to live with the earth, not against
it. This is difficult when children are
not spending enough time outdoors.
You are the antidote, because only by
getting outdoors will children gain
the appreciation, knowledge, and
sense of wonder needed to become
stewards of the earth. We know from
our own experience the rewards of
being outdoors. Only by being outdoors
will children reap the physical and
psychological benefits the research
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dan Kriesberg is the author of several books, including Think Green, Take Action: Books and Activities for Kids (Teacher Ideas Press Books) which
was reviewed in the winter 2011 issue of PATHWAYS. He received the NYSOEA Outdoor Educator Award in 1994 and the Art and Literary Award in 2003. He currently
teaches middle school science and athletics at the Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY. This article has been abridged for length and is based on a workshop Dan
has led at the Greenkill Outdoor Education & Retreat Center, where NYSOEA’s 50th Anniversary Conference will take place September 20-23, 2018.
28
and our own experiences have shown
come from getting out there.
 
There is a story to tell, so be a story
sharer. Let the land, water, and sky help
you. Let the children help tell the story
as well. Ecology is filled with fascinating
characters, interrelationships, conflicts,
heroes, and more. Geology is a journey
back in time. Whatever it is that you
are teaching, there should be a theme
with the connections that will help
children understand and remember.
Don’t teach a bunch of random facts or
activities. Share your story in the style
that suits you, your curricular objectives,
and the amount of time you have.
Back in the 1980s, I used an Indiana
Jones adventure to connect lessons on
ecology to save an endangered species.
Wilderness survival classes began with
a plane crash that required learning
outdoor living skills to get back to safety.
A lesson on forest ecology began with
the story of a red eft. You will find your
voice– and it will resonate.
Teach local. There is amazing
everywhere. The animals and plants
living wherever it is you live teach the
same lessons as those in the jungle,
desert, or arctic. Where you live has
mind-blowing flora and fauna that
inspire wonder. The best part of all is
that once children learn wonder, they
will be more attentive to what is around
their homes. They will be having direct
experiences. The lessons from catching
a frog far outweigh a website, movie, or
video of even the most amazing wildlife.  
Teach love. Let there be no “ecophobia.”
First described by David Sobel, this
concept is important to those of us
who work with children. Ecophobia is
a “fear of environmental problems and
the natural world.” Fear is not a great
motivator; love works much better.
The stories you tell should be about
the wonder of the “more than human”
world. The stories should teach how it all
works by fostering an awareness of our
connection and love for the outdoors
that comes from learning through play,
exploration, guidance, fun,
and wondering.
Teach science. Facts matter; a
theory is not a guess. Knowledge is
collected through experimentation
and observation. Then, based on the
accumulation of facts, theories are
developed to explain what is going on.
Decision-making should be based on
facts. Don’t just tell children how our
knowledge was figured out. Have them
figure things out for themselves through
the activities and lessons you plan.
The scientific method is not just for
scientists. It is okay to say, “I don’t know,
Pathways Winter 2018
 Trees & Winter…and Me!!
Written by Jerry E. Passer

let’s find out.” even if you can’t find The woods……in darkness lay.
out at the moment. Figuring out
ways to learn independently can
Its sentries,
be an opportunity for students to tall against the crusted snow
experience how science works. so white and cold,
Teach hope. There are reasons to
cry out
be optimistic. The wild is not all gone. in creaks and groans
There is still much beauty and wonder known only to one who wherein
to be experienced. Human-caused
seeks repose
problems have human solutions.
Small actions multiplied by millions of life’s daily toil.
both cause and can solve problems.
The Clean Air and Clean Water Acts Autumn’s wind and rain…..
have made a huge difference. The
Montreal protocols, an international
October’s shorter days
treaty banning chlorofluorocarbons, and frosty morns
has led to the closing of the hole in have bared the gnarled
the ozone layer. Species that were
once endangered are now safe from
and staggered limbs
extinction. Yes, there is much to do, but that now cast ghastly forms
by focusing on what is working you will in moonlight
inspire children more than focusing on
what is not working.
upon the snow’s glitter.

Teach action. Children need to Herein rests the grace

understand their role in a democracy.
and peace
This means having knowledge of
environmental issues, at local, national, that a troubled heart must find,
and international levels. The knowledge lest hurt
will help them take action and not feel and pain
overwhelmed by the attitude there
is nothing to be done. Children have
wrest joy…and life….
the right and responsibility to let their and love
elected officials know how they feel. from deep within.
They will be the ones making decisions
in the future as voters and consumers.
The cold – the night –
Enjoy! Let the children see your passion, the stillness……
and if the passion has waned, do not
hesitate to move on and do something
All too lonely for most
else. Be the best you can be; don’t settle it seems
for mediocrity even if others are. Know but not to him who lives
why you’re doing what you are doing
with dreams.
and do it with passion-- and continue
to inspire future generations of learners Trees and winter…
and leaders. and me.

Pathways Winter 2018 29

 Expanding our Worldview of Nature Education:
An Imperative for Our Times
By Mark Morey, Founder, Institute for Natural Learning
Keynote Speaker, 2017 NYSOEA Annual Conference
T his year’s conference theme was “Watershed Moments:
Connecting to Our Natural World”. What is a watershed
moment?
After a bit of research, I determined that it is the moment
where the watershed begins. At the top of the watershed is
a divide between two watersheds. Poetically, this is a moment
of choice; it’s the moment to ask which watershed do I go
down? For once I make the choice, I will forever be cascading
down a specific paradigm, with specific values, consequences
and possibilities.
So let’s bring ourselves up to the watershed moment, a
moment of consciousness, of choice. Let’s go to the top of the
watershed and ask What is nature? and What is the purpose of
nature education?
Here is a framework of interdependent building blocks to
help us with that: Nature Connection, Cultural Mentoring
and Regenerative Leadership.
30
Nature Connection
Nature connection is a process of relationship building.  It
includes connection to self, connection to others and what
we currently call ‘nature’. It’s like an immersive bath in sensory
input and ultimately leads to high levels of well-being. 
I see our natural world as more than “the natural world”. Is it
really ‘other’? A more complex view may be: I am nature, I am
a species, I am an animal. If humans are also included into the
whole definition of nature, then how do we integrate that as
nature educators?
Cultural Mentoring
We know taking the time to love nature is important and that
is at the heart of environmental education. But because of the
cultural context of our upbringing we could end up unaware
of our profound connection with nature and the moral
integrity of stewarding the source of life.
Pathways Winter 2018
Culture is the often invisible context of our day-to-day social
world. Like downstream in a watershed, we are acculturated
by the surrounding environment, what we see and hear,
what our mind focuses on and our senses take in. Who
is determining that mind focus, and does it have our best
interest in mind?
There is some startling research that unveils some unhealthy
cultural patterns. For example, the fastest growing market of
media and advertising that influences brand loyalty is aimed
at 0-3 year-olds.
“In the end, we are not only commodifying our children,
which is the standard critique of consumer culture,
but, even more powerfully, we are recruiting them to
commodify themselves”.1 - Juliet Schor
The total advertising budget for United States in 2017:
$191 Billion.2
Part of our cultural mentoring should be media literacy,
a strategy for raising our children in a conscious way.
Awareness in nature is often called tracking. Media literacy
is an analogous and related awareness skill set we can call
‘culture tracking’. Building curiosity in children by exploring
the natural world can include the transfer to the human
world; be alert and aware, examine and follow the tracks, ask
questions.Where are they leading us? What are they telling us?
Another powerful approach that weaves together nature
connection, cultural mentoring and regenerative leadership
is rites of passage in nature. Many nature educators can look
back at formative moments that ‘initiated’ their interest in
nature. Most of those moments were alone, either seeking
solace or basking in unguided wonder. In traditional societies
that are connected to nature, the community comes together,
ritualizes and sanctifies this bond. Ideally a pact is made
between every human directly to the source of life, insuring
reciprocity forever.
If we want to establish nature connection in all people and be
change agents for long-term health and wellness, we have to
begin working with cultural approaches like rites of passage.
Regenerative Leadership
Initiation is a cultural activity. During times of transition,
intentional values are shared with the next generation by
trained community guides that influence the formation of
nature identity. This approach is like a seed, an internal moral
guidance system, in the face of intense influences that don’t
have their best interest in mind.
Footnotes
1. http://www.iasc-culture.org/THR/archives/Commodification/5.2CSchor.pdf
Pathways Winter 2018
This isn’t new. We have simply forgotten. At the top of
the watershed, by asking these big questions we begin to
remember. Some of us are old enough, lucky enough to have
gotten some of this grit by falling into ditches, playing on our
own, way beyond our parents call, as children.
This exemplifies the complexity of the framework: Nature,
Culture and Leadership. When all three of these are working in
relationship with each other, the education has the potential
to be regenerative.
My daughter, her peers and several hundred community
children were part of an ambitious cultural approach to nature
education that included many community-supported nature
initiation experiences. The grit, confidence and most of all,
the inner compass that came along with the love of nature,
is truly regenerative. The children also experienced gentle
and ongoing edge experiences of cold, wet, muddy, hungry,
buggy and alone in nature. This all happened in community
settings with a wide range of ages in playful and adventurous
environments.
These are powerful states to experience under the guidance of
mentors, lasting far longer with greater impact than we ever
dreamed of. And this is exactly the fortitude and grit that we
need today for our youth to lead and thrive.
Mark Morey, Founder, Institute for Natural Learning
Mark is dedicated to leaving the world better than he found
it. He fosters regenerative leadership values, practices and
learning systems for communities and workplaces. He
designs experiences from potential. For the last 30 years,
Mark has been a leader in the international nature connection
movement to reconnect humanity to the natural world.
He has done this through several organizations that he
has founded as well as facilitating 100 Art of Mentoring
workshops in five countries. Mark has facilitated life-changing
retreats for adults and youth of all ages with the intention to
empower the individual to be a leader in cultural change.
His work has ranged from 200-person, week-long events
with families of all ages, to adolescent rites of passage, adult
leadership immersions, business consulting, public speaking,
and organizational network leadership on an international
scale. Mark’s passion for environmental healing and cultural
consciousness has gained wide recognition as a leader in
earth-centered leadership development. He is a risk taker, full
of life, loves to laugh and will be the first to admit he doesn’t
know how this is all going to turn out. One thing he knows is
that there is only one life to live. His keynote speech from the
2017 Conference can be viewed here: http://markmorey.com/
culture/expanding-worldview-nature-education-imperative-
times/ He can be contacted at: mark@ifnaturallearning.com.
2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272314/advertising-spending-in-the-us/
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