Trees towering over my small body, the sounds of wildlife in the distance that if I'm quiet enough I am so lucky to hear, streams that seem never ending, a rewarding view of the vast landscape, the fun I had on the way down as I insisted on splashing in every puddle. These are memories from a hike of the Lonesome Lake Trail in NH I completed with my mom when I was 8 years old. This experience was the first time I realized how rewarding hiking is. The hard work and endurance it takes to get to the summit is often rewarded by a miraculous view. But even when there is no view, being one of the only humans amongst the trees and vegetation gives off both feelings of peace and mystery. I believe this was when my connection and passion for nature began and being able to share this with my mom, a major role model in my life just amplified this connection.
My passion for nature started early on, from hikes with my mom, adventures in my backyard with my dad, and days spent kayaking on Squam Lake. These experiences bred curiosity as so much of these places were full of wildlife I knew so little about. Today, I am still finding there is so much mystery in our environment. Nearly every time I step outside new questions are raised about the ecosystems, plants, and animals. Why are there so little aquatic birds? How did spiders evolve to catch food with intricate webs? What are some ways plants adapt to compete for resources when neighboring plants take over? These are just a few of my recent questions. I believe curiosity about nature is a huge driver in building a love and connection for the environment, and without direct experience with the natural world often people lack the motivation to protect it.
So much of the AmeriCorps position with the Squam Lakes Association, is facilitating opportunities for the community to access and learn about the natural world. Of course there is teaching people about invasive species during Lake Hosting, creating programs to educate and engage the community, and educating people about leave no trace principles when Trail Hosting. But even outside of these tasks I am finding there are always opportunities to share my passion for nature with the community. Some of these interactions seem small, but thinking back to some of my experiences, it's often simple things over time that build upon a passion and connection. I am just at the beginning of my AmeriCorps term but I am excited to continue to grow knowledge and skills in the conservation field and share my passions for nature with others.
Lydia is a half-term member at the Squam Lakes Association. She likes running in her free time - she’s run two half-marathons! Learn more about Lydia here.