I took this picture several years ago
with my friend Julia on a rainy walk in West Greenwich, RI. We were both
teacher naturalists at the W. Alton Jones Campus at the time and
decided to head to a point known as "turtle haven" on Saturday, going
further together than we could go with 10 students trailing us. The rain
didn't deter us, and I took pictures of Julia as she explored ahead of
me. In fact, I have spent the past three years photographing Rhode
Island, a state that I have explored endlessly and a place I consider
home. Rhode Island was the first place I ever chose to live, and if I'm
driving back into Providence from any other state, the familiar curves
of the skyline make me feel as though I'm pulling into the driveway of
my family's home.
It has been a week
now since I entered graduate school in New Hampshire. My program brings
me greater joy than have felt in a long time, and knowing I will be
teaching about the outdoors for the rest of my days is an assurance I
would gladly pay tuition for. So much of what I have been focusing on in
my program is how Environmental Education encourages a sense of place
and stewardship for a particular area or region, and I feel both
grateful and nostalgic for how much Rhode Island has become my place.
Rhode Island is affectionately known as "The Biggest Little State In The Union." This is especially reflected in the diversity of landscapes that make up the state. From the rocky shores of Narragansett, to the quiet forests of
West Greenwich, to the port cities of Northern Rhode Island, "The
Biggest Little" has been where I have embraced nature for three years. As wonderful as discovering New Hampshire
is, I feel that I am still getting my bearings, trying to figure out
where to place myself on the map. The landscape of New England carries
up from Rhode Island, through Massachusetts where I was born, and up to
the Granite State. It is not unfamiliar to stand in a shaded glen here,
but it has not yet become my place. I feel so profoundly lucky to have a
state and a city that I hold so dear, and my love for Little Rhody only
solidifies my desire to teach place-based learning. Being an educator
is always an adventure, but for now I write this letter to Rhode Island,
fondly.
Aw! I love your writing style, especially your word choice! I feel the same way about the seacoast of New Hampshire, it was the first place that I really took the time to get to know, and while I'm still discovering new places and people, I feel like I've lived here my entire life. I think it's really interesting that your experience here so far has brought you to a greater appreciation for a sense of place, and as I find it to be an extremely important aspect of environmental education, I hope to find as much enjoyment in helping others find their own sense of place as you have written about here :)
ReplyDeleteSense of place is a crucial aspect of EE. Being aware of this is key. Considering the ways you can help students develop a sense of place or recognize where this connection exists is a significant part of an EE's role.
ReplyDelete