Claire Dean
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KIDS FOR THE WOODS I started out wanting to write about the woods, but it turns out that what I really wanted to do was protect it. At first, though, I felt powerless. Who was I to try to stop housing developments or logging companies? All I had was my love for the woods and the fierce desire that something in this world remain wild and untouched. But as I wrote GIRLWOOD, I began to realize that passion and faith are everything. . . I wasn’t powerless. I had my words. I had my passion. I had the joy that I felt every time I hiked from my cabin door into the sunny ponderosa woods or the darker forests of fir and moss. Here is a secret: Joy beats intellect. It even trumps strength. Joy inspires and moves even the most hardened soul. Find your joy and there will be no limits to what you can accomplish. You are not powerless. It doesn’t matter how young you are, if you’re shy or outgoing, rich or poor, black or brown or white. You can protect what you love. You have your voice. Your passion. Your joy and your actions. The first thing, and the most important, is to set an example by the way you act. If you are respectful and awed by the natural world, others will wonder at your wonder. They’ll think you know something they don’t. They will follow your trail into the wilderness and discover how majestic and essential it is for themselves. Then they will want to protect it, too. You can do something as simple as picking up trash in the woods. You can keep on the trails, never litter, pack out what you pack in. You are a powerful guardian of the earth. You have no idea the power you have. One person can start a landslide of change. One act of kindness or integrity or courage ripples out like waves in a pond. You can make a difference. Imagine what you would do if you were the only one who could make a difference. Imagine that your local woods or wilderness depends on you alone, because it might. Never assume that “someone else will do it.” Be that someone. Go into the woods. Close your eyes. Listen. Smell. Think. See how far you can walk, how strong you are. Familiarize yourself with the plants, read guide books, be careful but don’t be afraid. You can feed yourself. You can protect yourself and others, including the natural world. You are a child of the earth, the best friend the woods can have. What will you do? |
Here are some things YOU can do to protect the natural world: 1. Get to know the wild places in your area. You are part of nature and belong there! Walk, hike, and backpack so you gain firsthand knowledge of just how important these areas are to humans, plants, and wildlife. 2. Bring a plastic grocery bag on your walks and pick up trash. Organize an anti-litter hike with your friends. 3. Use your voice! Write a school essay about the importance of wild spaces. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Write your congressmen and let them know how much your care about the environment! 4. Inspire others! Form a group at your school or in your neighborhood devoted to protecting and cherishing the wilderness. Organize nature walks, peaceful protests against harmful practices and developments, and clean-up hikes. Never be afraid to speak up for what matters to you! Wilderness cannot speak for itself. 5. Volunteer with your local parks department or forest service agency to help cut and maintain trails. 6. Join a group like the Sierra Student Coalition, the student-run arm of the Sierra Club, or Roots and Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s humanitarian and environment education program. These groups work around the country and the world to protect the environment and promote respect and compassion for all living things. Check out the groups at www.ssc.org and www.rootsandshoots.org. If no group is available in your area, start your own! |
