Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area meant that I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural landscapes and habitats. This gave me the opportunity to observe and experience the wonders of nature firsthand. Having a direct connection to nature gave me a deeper and personal understanding of the environment around me, as well as a desire to protect the species that lived in this environment. Additionally, my family and culture taught me the value of natural resources and conservation, and instilled in me a curiosity about the environment and a passion for the natural world.
I grew up on Bay Farm Island, in the city of Alameda. Bay Farm Island is a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay, which meant that I was constantly surrounded by coastal habitats. From a young age, I have had the opportunity to walk along the Bay Farm Island shoreline and observe the beauty of San Francisco Bay. The view of the Bay was breathtaking. During the day, the light blue water sparkled under the sun as it splashed against the grey shoreline rocks. During the night, the darker navy water sparkled under the
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The firsthand experiences that I had with the natural world around me shaped both my appreciation of the environment, as well as contributed to my aspirations to protect the species that live in the environment around me. My social environment, including my family and heritage, also contributed greatly to the way I see the environment. Having people who worked in science related fields around me sparked my curiosity in the environment and the culture I was raised in taught me the importance of natural resources and conservation. My personal environment cultivated my interest in the natural world and allowed me to see the environment as not separate from humans, but something we are a part
“The modern form of the word environment comes from an older word that we hardly use anymore: environ, to surround, to form a ring around, to encircle” (Stoll 3). The meaning of the word environment did not become a major factor in the lives of humanity until 1945. The tragic events that led to the end of World War II sparked a chief movement in history: American Environmentalism. Global decision-making changed as well as human unity due to the mere purpose that fate of all people and the environment became intertwined (Stoll 1). I will further discuss the dramatic attempts made by some Americans to bring the importance of preserving our environment to the surface to show if and how we have evolved.
Richard Louv, the author of, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature deficit-disorder,” talks about nature and its benefits to a healthy development. Time Experiencing with nature allows people to have healthy development since it promotes creativity and imagination. It does not take more than a couple of steps outside to see nature. It is all around us. It can even be right outside our window. Leaving the blinds open can bring peace of mind, just by viewing it. As people experience time with nature, no matter the age, they develop greater creativity and imagination. It is like people today fear nature.
From the lone hiker on the Appalachian Trail to the environmental lobby groups in Washington D.C., nature evokes strong feelings in each and every one of us. We often struggle with and are ultimately shaped by our relationship with nature. The relationship we forge with nature reflects our fundamental beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. The works of timeless authors, including Henry David Thoreau and Annie Dillard, are centered around their relationship to nature.
... the harmful effects that we will experience later on. It is important that we do our best to preserve the incredible natural landscape we’ve been given, and not destroy it rapidly, as we have tended to do.
I think that learning about the environment starting at a young age gives children the chance to discover and critically evaluate the world they live in. This is an important thing to teach children early on, which I believe is becoming a more prevalent topic at younger ages. I know I did not read most of the books I found for this project until now. I did not really have a strong environmental introduction until I reached high school which is another reason I picked this topic. Imagine if these books have an impact on children, and that these children want to start making small changes in their own homes and neighborhoods. I realize that this can be a hard thing for children to do, which is why I think it is so important for children to learn about from their pare...
On the Monday October 27th, 2014, for the first time in 4 years I did not wake up at 5:30 in the morning, I was not putting on a green skivvy shirt and shorts. There was no formation, no one that was higher command I had to report to, telling me where I had to go, what time I had to eat breakfast, what was I doing this day or what our platoon plans were for the day. There were no PT (physical training) I had to do this morning. Instead, I woke up grab a regular t-shirt, khaki shorts, and my two sea bags full of clothing and gear that I collected during my time in the Marine Corps. I threw everything in my vehicle and drove from Camp Pendleton, California to Quincy, Illinois. Within two weeks I was accepted to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. For three days, I stayed at the
Withgott, J., & Laposata, M. (2012). Essential environment: The science behind the stories. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Personal Narrative There lay her limp body staring up at us. Her cold eyes were no longer
the environment and biosphere as a whole, and as such, increased efforts must be made to
When I think of the perfect place, I imagine a cascading waterfall, a vast forest, a stunning mountainside, or a warm sunset on the beach. I look up around me, mesmerized by the vastness of the natural world and breathe in the fresh air. Over the course of my life, I have come to respect the environment and the earth’s natural surroundings in ways that most others do not in the industrialized and technological era of today. I can appreciate the beauty of the Earth and of all the different landscapes and organisms that surround me. The way in which I value and treasure the environment has evolved just as I have. I see the environment as something to be preserved and admired, not destroyed or exploited. My relationship with the environment is
* Daily, Gretchen C., ed. Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1997.
Most of us are aware that spending time in nature is good for us. Not so many, however, can say exactly why this is the case. Although understanding the exact reasons why the natural world can positively influence your general well-being isn’t going to increase the benefit, it might just inspire you to get out there and spend more time in our planet’s very own, natural quality-of-life-enhancer - nature itself. Below, we’ve listed five of these reasons in hope of doing just that…
After going through the details on this topic I started realizing the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem. It would not be wrong to say that it has also bought upon a sense of responsibility and maturity in me towards the sensitive issues surrounding us which generally are ignored or are not given much importance by the students of my age group. I do now believe that even our small contribution can make a difference in preserving this great natural gift of God.
Also, when I was a counselor at the Ecotarium in Worcester Massachusetts, my fellow counselors and I tried to show the campers why preserving the environment is so important. We did this by showing them that the vast majority of our resources, including medicine, wood for houses, and food, come from nature. We showed them how fragile many animals are to changes in the environment. Part of Ecotarium is dedicated to rehabilitating and caring for animals that have been injured in the wild. The campers enjoyed working with the animals and began to realize that many of the causes for the displacement of these animals stemmed from the loss of their habitat due to human intrusion. I feel that incorporating the importance of environmental preservation at a young age is crucial because it well help to establish environmentally-friendly habits.