Several students also discussed the barriers they and others might face in accessing nature.
Hiking and spending time outdoors have always been some of my favorite activities, whenever I have a chance to travel or spend time away from home. Some of my earliest memories are from hiking around national parks with my family, running through waterfalls, feeding tiny fish, and looking out across rivers on overlooks. These times I spent with my family and friends are ones that I hold closest to my heart. I love nature and the outdoors, even though I am not able to go out nearly as much as I want. This is mainly due to logistical reasons, whether it being not having a car to go places, being over an hour away from trails I enjoy, or being caught up in the constant movement of life. The ability to get out in nature and being able to hike a trail gives such an immense sense of freedom that I never feel with any other adventure I take. I always find myself yearning to get out of the chaos which plagues urban environments and reach a place where I can connect with nature.
— Ian, Cumberland Polytechnic High School, Fayetteville, NC
I do face barriers to spending time in nature. I live in an up-and-coming suburban area; houses are close together and look nearly identical. It creates a dull atmosphere, but I try to balance it by sitting outside on my patio. I wish I were more surrounded by nature and had more opportunities for outdoor activities … If I could change anything, I would like to have more parks, forests, or hiking spots close to home. Having more accessible outdoor spaces would make it easier to connect with nature and improve my overall well-being.
— Ken, North Carolina, U.S.A.
I do like connecting to nature but many times, I run out of time to do that. During the school year, I have school during the day when the sun is up and then I have gymnastics practice. However, during the summer I have more time to go to gardens, go on hikes and run along the Schuylkill River. Also, I sometimes go to overnight camps that are based in the mountains and we do a lot of outdoor activities such as fishing, archery, volleyball, swimming and boating. Many of these camps are also device free which allows me to hang out with my friends more and none of us are able to be distracted by a phone. My favorite thing is to go on hikes since it’s outside and I like walking on rocks over rivers in the shade.
— Andria, Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
I live in a place where I am surrounded by many natural environments every day, and I would not be used to a life where I would not be able to hear birds chirping in the morning or have the ability to go out and just lay in the grass. But I also acknowledge that I am a person of privilege, and have never found it difficult or inappropriate for me to go hiking, swimming, camping, etc. Because this article helped me understand how lucky I am to simply walk outside and immerse myself in nature, it also helped me realize that not everyone is able or even socially approved of doing so. So while I don’t really have a difficult time going out in nature, this article inspired me to encourage others to go outside and ignore what is socially acceptable.
— SJ, GNG High School, Maine
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