Our Natural Connection
Summary
In a world where the effects of global climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, our connection to the natural world around us is more important than ever.
I remembered a conversation I had with a friend as we sat on the creek bank and watched the sunset over Pheasant Branch Conservancy. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the sounds of frogs, crickets, and the occasional bird or two.
I turned to him and said, “You know, in 30 years a lot of the natural areas we enjoy probably won’t be as beautiful as this is right now.”
He nodded and replied, “Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but it’s already happening. Our world has changed so much, even in the last 10 years; you can see the effects from right here. ”
It was true; we could see the silhouettes of unfinished houses and hear the faint noise of cars from a highway built nearby.
I first started getting into environmental issues last summer after I got Pinterest. I began to see infographics and data about how much plastic there is on this planet or how half of our oxygen supply from the Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed for logging purposes. Our fast-paced world requires us to prioritize convenience over the state of our environment, and sometimes even our health. I started to feel guilty whenever I had to take a plastic bag from a store or eat out of takeout containers we threw away afterward. It hurts to see that more than half of the leftover food we eat ends up in landfills when millions go hungry.
We notice these environmental effects right here at home, too. When my family moved to Waunakee 7 years ago, the population was only about 6 or 7,000 people. Now, it’s completely doubled in size and continues to grow. And yes, in hindsight, it’s a good thing. People want to live here because of our community's reputation and school system. But as each year passes, we see more subdivisions being developed, more traffic and more farmland being replaced by houses worth over half a million dollars.
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2 summers ago, this land was all cornfields. The number of farms is decreasing as more houses are being built around Waunakee. |
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Entrance to Waunakee’s newest subdivision. The new road leads to Woodland Drive and could eventually cause traffic problems as more people move in. Over the summer, my family and I did a National Parks Tour, visiting Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Humans have hardly altered these places, as they are under the protection of the National Parks Service. Through their efforts, thousands of wildlife species can thrive around the area, like bison that walk right up to your car or bears that roam the forests without fear of their habitat being taken away. The geothermal features like Old Faithful and The Grand Prismatic are still in their original state, even though they’ve been around for millions of years. It’s inspiring to see that it’s possible to preserve special places like these instead of taking the land for our benefit. |
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The Yellowstone River flows through Yellowstone National Park. The water’s fast-moving pace catches the light, creating a rainbow over the center. |
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The Grand Prismatic in Yellowstone National Park. An iconic landmark, the beautiful colors are caused by bacteria that live in and around the hot spring. |
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Photo of Grand Teton Mountain, the highest mountain peak in the Teton Range. Below it flows the Snake River, which eventually leads to the Pacific Ocean. |
I’ve made it a personal goal to do everything I can to protect our environment, one eco-friendly swap at a time. I’ve started making some of my own personal care products, using less plastic in my lunchbox, and stopping taking plastic bags from the store and bringing my own instead. I’m not perfect at it, but every little step counts. And everyone who contributes to the cause is making a significant step, too.
My solace has become the county parks that are closer to home. They are a reminder of our connection to the Earth and how much we rely on the environment for our resources. Even something as simple as taking a walk through the woods and hearing nature sounds is very therapeutic, taking our minds off the stresses of life, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Exploring places like these helps me reset myself so I can focus on the present moment while appreciating the beauty around me. And I want to help preserve these spaces so that in 50 years the rare beauty we discover and enjoy can still be around for everyone to enjoy them.
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Sunset over Woodland Drive, just outside of Waunakee. |
Comments
Post a commentWaunakee Community High School Advanced English 10 - 1B
Mrs. Swanhorst's Advanced English 10 students
Leah, I really enjoyed reading your photo essay. As someone who also lives in the Dane County area, your story of ongoing expansion is very familiar to me. This story and images contrasted with those from the national parks are quite striking. I love that you ended your piece with an image of the sunset and an appreciation for the wild spaces we do have near us. I agree that taking solace and protecting these areas is so important to our community and our planet. Thank you for all you are doing to take this seriously and encourage others to do the same.