Immersing instead of Escaping

I had a very interesting conversation with a high school student at lunch today. At the semester school that I kinda- sorta work at right now (I also work for a nature center an hour and half away). At the school they are doing something called solos. Solos are basically at time for kids camp alone in the woods. They each have spot and they stay out for 24 hours by themselves. I want you all to keep in mind there are several safety precautions which in place to make sure every students physical and emotional safety needs are met. I personally see this as an excellent opportunity for reflection on their semester. I also see it as an opportunity to really connect with their spot.

This girl who I was sitting with said 'Solos are going to be so boring! I'm going to bring a book about the tropics or something while I'm there.'

She clearly wasn't seeing this as an opportunity to connect with the woods. Instead she was seeing this as an opportunity to sit in a tent for hours and read. She was also choosing a book which was going to escape the world around her. Don't get me wrong, I escaped all the time while I was in Benin. Every time I took a bike ride, or read in my apartment, I escaped the frustrations of third world living. This can be a very helpful for sanity. However, I found myself at some low points in Benin where I was completely escaped from the reality around me.

It is a fine line to walk between escaping and immersion. But I think for one night this girl should immerse herself in the opportunity given. Carpe Diem! Perhaps choosing a book that instead of escaping makes her feel more connected to her place. Books like A Sand County Almanac or Walden (even though Walden is based on a place in Massachusetts it's still a very similar climate.) would only work to deepen the sense of place.

Camping on the 4th

This last three 4th of the July's I've spent them in a tent. In 2011 I was in Yellowstone, 2012 I was in Alaska, and this year I was in the north woods of Wisconsin. The whole point of the 4th of July is to celebrate the birth of this great country we live in. The United States definitely has it's pros and it's cons but it's the place I would prefer to live. The US is still a very young country in comparison to countries in Europe or Asia. The Declaration of Independence was only written in 1776. Fun fact it was written on July 2nd and went through a two day revision process and was approved on the 4th. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more

Well he got what he wanted. So John Adams basically came up with how we celebrate today. While fireworks, hot dogs and beer are great, the best way for me to celebrate isn't getting drunk, overeating and watching sparkly things in the sky. I prefer to celebrate by going out to the woods. The US doesn't have great ancient monuments such as the Cathedrals in Europe or the Great Wall in China. In the US those monuments live in National Parks, State Forests and Wildlife refuges. A barbeque is replaced by a hike through the woods with friends, and eating a well earned trail meal afterward. The shows, games sports, and parade can be replaced with camp games, songs around a campfire and sharing of memories. The guns and bells can be replaced by songs of birds. And of course fireworks, or illuminations as John Adams puts it, can be easily replaced by stars. Also my celebration doesn't end at any given moment it ends when I walk out of the woods.

I don't feel the after effects of the 4th with a hangover and 10 pounds of leftover hamburgers. Instead I take a shower and let the dirt, bug dope and sweat go down the drain. I wash my stinky socks, hang up my sleeping bag and put my pack away for the next trip.