Pathways

Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association Summer 2015
www.nysoea.org 607.591.6422 photo by Michael Fraher

Presidents Message

Summer is Permission to Play!

Summer conjures up images of children playing in the
outdoors, free from the confines of the classroom. At the
end of a school year, summer once seemed to stretch into
the future like an endless parade of carefree days. How
quickly in adulthood they seem to pass. Summer is a
time when all children are granted permission to play:
constructing sand castles on the beach, riding bicycles,
picking blueberries, watching fireworks, catching fireflies,
exploring a city park, building a fort, drawing chalk
animals on the sidewalk, playing in a babbling mountain
brook ...and the list goes on and on. What are your
childhood summer memories?

In the spirit of our profession, I invite all educators,

administrators and bureaucrats to forget about
standardized testing, No Child Left Behind, and Common
Core standards for a while; open your doors, step outside,
and give yourself permission to play. Perhaps the
imagination will stir and a new paradigm can emerge.
What we discover may transform our views of education
in America. Its time to go outside and play!

* Changes in American Childrens Time, 1997-2003

International Journal of Time Use Research.

The value of play cant be overstated, and according to

the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights,
play is the right of every child. Alarmingly, todays
children spend 90% of their time indoors*, increasingly
becoming disconnected from the natural world...
and their health and mental well-being is suffering.
Pediatricians know play, and outdoor play is essential to
development and contributes to the cognitive, physical,
social and emotional well-being of children. I suggest the
United Nations High Commission for Human Rights add
one word to their statement: outdoor play is a right of
every child.
In todays world, play is very often associated with
computers, or even structured sports, but when children
step outside they are clueless! They have forgotten how
to REALLY play! Even outdoor education, a playful and
interdisciplinary subject, tends to follow a structured
curriculum, striving to meet educational standards
imposed by government. But unstructured outdoor play is
a process of learning that encourages children to explore
the natural world and cultivate their imagination; it can
lead to essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking,
and problem-solving. Outdoor play enriches our lives and
perhaps even gives a deeper meaning to life.

Timothy J. Stanley
President, NYSOEA
[email protected]

Pathways Summer 2015

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Digital Detox:
Lessons Learned from Screen-Free Week
Written by Jessica Kratz [email protected]

In order to seek ones own direction, one must simplify the

mechanics of ordinary, everyday life. -Plato
After hours of mindless scrolling through social media
dashboards, half-heartedly reading posts, checking status
updates, and waiting for likes, I came across a post about
Screen-Free Week, May 4-10, 2015. Feeling a need to clear
my head, I embraced this suggestion. While I admit that
This is what environmental educators should be doing! and
This would make a great Pathways article, were significant
afterthoughts, I participated for personal reasons.
I have been screen-free before, as I belong to a generation
who had technology truly grow up with us. Previous screenfree segments of my life were borne of an opportunity to go
off the grid while monitoring terns on Great Gull Island in
2001, and again during a trip canoeing the Green River in
2007. However, this was the first time since smartphones,
supervisory responsibilities, and newsletter editing entered
my life that I chose a digital detox.
Though there are many tips and tools available from the
Screen-Free Week website (www.screenfree.org), I decided to
define my own rules:

no TV
no checking or updating social media
replace emails and Internet searching/social

media scrolling with 30-60 minutes of reading

and journaling
no phone photography

To start the process, I put a disclaimer on my Facebook

page stating I would be taking part in this experiment. This
resulted in some interesting conversations. One colleague
informed me that he had stopped taking photos out in the
field and on vacation so he could be more fully present in
each experience; another told me that she found extra time
Pathways Summer 2015

in her day when she gave up Facebook for Lent. Though

nobody opted to go screen-free with me, (screen-free support
group, anyone?) I did spur a colleague to make an effort to
read more, while checking his social media accounts just
once per day.
Surprisingly, I found the no pictures guideline had the
most profound impact. Without a trigger-happy photo
finger, I paid greater attention to sensory details, relying
on memory and subsequent journaling. This was the first
revelation of my screen-free week, as I embarked on a long
hike and found myself repeating my I spy list for recording
afterward. I took more detailed field notes, instead of
relying on photos to identify a particular species, and was
freed from the near-manic impulse to immediately share
the experience digitally. I happily found my attention span
increased, as I devoted myself entirely to my interactions
with the natural world, no longer concerned with responding
to or seeking digital distraction, external validation, and
fleeting attention.
The first evening, I accepted a colleagues offer to help
prepare for upcoming horseshoe crab monitoring sessions.
I was rewarded with a windy walk along the beach, a
beautiful sunset over Great Kills Harbor, and seeing a
cormorant, 2 oystercatchers, and an osprey nest atop a
navigation buoy. That sure beat staying home and watching
sitcoms or scrolling through my news feed!
Most evenings throughout the week, I stayed home reading
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love,
Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck,
M.D. He outlined the four steps to discipline as: Delaying
gratification, Accepting responsibility, Dedication to truth,
and Balancing. By journaling an experience and then
waiting (like I waited for distribution of this publication) to
share poignant moments, such as a wood thrush splashing
playfully in the terrace fountain behind our nature center, I
3

the universe, I realized the power of intention. While an

initial goal of going screen-free was increasing my attention
span, I began to notice an increase in my intention span-energy focused on the outcome one wishes to manifest.
This Memorial Day weekend, I took a close look at the notes
from Screen-Free week. While I have allowed myself back
on social media, I post less, and am more deliberate in image
and content selection. I continue to cut back on television,
read more (offline!), and write in a journal. During
subsequent hikes, I have refrained from taking photos, and
considered it a blessing when my phone battery died the
other day, rendering me unable to record a Canada goose
hissing at me, protecting her three fuzzy yellow-and-black
chicks as I attempted to cross a footbridge.
Resolutions are often reserved for the winter holiday
season, but perhaps there is some benefit to setting goals
and intentions in shorter intervals. To that vein, ScreenFree week has served to remind me of what my younger
self already knew, and recently rediscovered, tucked away
inside a chapbook of poems. So I will repeat my summer
resolution from 2001, part of a poem I wrote as a 21 year-old
AmeriCorps member and graduate student:

Map of my screen-free adventure

(it just did not seem right to illustrate this piece with photos)

am finding far more joy than I did when seeking the instant
gratification of snapping a photo of flora/fauna/moment,
and straightaway posting it to a social media platform.

This summer I plan to walk around barefoot

So there are no barriers between myself and the earth
And I will squish the mud between my toes
Remembering that I came from this earth
And I will become earth yet again
May you spend your summer (and subsequent seasons) with
simplicity, purpose, intention, and joy, and bear witness to
these tenets through your work in Outdoor Education.

On the fourth night, otherwise known as Throwback

Thursday [#TBT] I began thinking about FOMO [Fear of
Missing Out]. While I honestly felt by this point I had
broken the social media habit, I did miss this aspect, the
once-weekly opportunity to share an image/reflection of the
past and see those of others. But a bigger question came to
mind: Do we miss more by not being truly present in our
own experiences, by detailing and dedicating ourselves to
really know what is going on in the lives of those closest to
us, and in our environment? Granted, we share snippets
of ourselves through photos and hashtags, but are we ever
really present with anyone or anything when we interact
on the internet?
On Friday, I had the opportunity to take a brisk walk at
Great Kills Park with another colleague. After seeing only
red-winged blackbirds, sparrows, and swallows, she said,
Wouldnt it be great if we saw a wading or shorebird?
Moments thereafter, an egret flew overhead. What is
amazing in this process of disconnecting is the subsequent
reconnection with the surrounding world. Witnessing the
boomerang effect of attracting that which one puts out into
4

Pathways Summer 2015

Sign above office door in the High Rock Park Environmental Education Center

Organization for Outdoor Educators

Written by Maren V. Morsch
With only a half-decade in the field, I am basing this
observation on a limited set of data. However, I have become
aware of what seems to be a less than desirable trend in
areas inhabited by the creative and free-thinking minds
who find EE and OE to be their calling. Often these
spaces areshall we say, more creative and free-formed in
their organization than those of our suit-and-tie corporate
counterparts.
Now, I am by no means a neat freak. Just ask my mom. Shell
tell you. Better yet, look in my car. Thats a surefire sign that
I am NOT a Type A personality. However, when it comes to
shared workspaces and the sheer volume of items it takes to
run a year-round interpretive operation I tend to err on the
side of tidiness, order, and organization. This is a self-serving
tendencywhen running from one program to the next, a
quick transition from one program to another is essential
especially if I am trying to squeeze in a bathroom break or
a snack. If one is running a few minutes behind schedule,
the knowledge that all the items needed for a program are
together in a bin or a box is reassuring, comforting, and
enhances operational efficiency. With adequate organization,
there is less wasted time searching for lost or misplaced
items, less money spent buying unnecessarily redundant
supplies, and more time available to focus on critical
mission objectives.

Pathways Summer 2015

With these things in mind, I feel there are a few major

tenets that could serve to guide Nature Centers, interpretive
centers, and field education stations to help maintain
efficient and adequately organized workspaces.

1. Use what you have, and have what you need. In an

age of ever-shrinking budgets and increased operational
costs, there is often a tendency to hold on to things well
past their prime, or hang on to supplies from long ago,
in the hopes that they will someday be useful again.
While I certainly relate to the planet-friendliness of not
throwing things awaysometimes that program-specific
equipment for that big piece of equipment we no longer
have will be happier in a home that utilizes them. Calls
to fellow EE outfits, posts in trade journals, Facebook
and social media shout-outs, and of course, the standbys
of Goodwill and Craigslist can be useful in re-homing
items that are no longer serving an operational need.
These same outlets could also be utilized when locating
equipment.

2. Go through everything you have in-house regularly

at least once a year. Preferably quarterly, but pretty
much everyone has at least one lull in their calendar
year that coincides with the rhythms of nature to
provide a much-needed break from action-packed days
of unending visitation, trips, programs, and classes.

Capitalize on that time to go through what you have. It

may even save you money in the long run, as you may
even have things that you didnt know were available
because theyve been buried, hidden or otherwise
forgotten! Also, while the task of slogging through
endless bins/shelves/piles doesnt really fall under
anyones idea of a good time, when done regularly and
with vigor, it really can be considered an investment in
your operation.

3. Ask for help! Everyone uses the equipment and

supplies, so dont be afraid to ask for help in creating
order out of everyones shared chaos. Plus, many hands
make light work. And if everyone participates, you dont
run the risk of accidently ix-naying something that
someone else needs or uses, just because YOU dont
need or use it.

4. But, be a little ruthless. Havent used the astronomy

lab in the last 6 years, and no plans to use it for the
foreseeable future? Loan it out to someone who needs
it, or better yet, rehome with an underserved youth
program or to a program that needs an equipment
upgrade. For smaller items, the rule of the closet
applies. Havent needed/used/touched it in more than
two years? It can probably go.
And sometimes, we hold onto things out of sentimental
reasons rather than operational ones. Love that leaky
pair of waders because thats where you caught your
first (insert water species here)? Thats all well and
goodbut not for the guy who doesnt know theyre
your lucky leaky waders and uses them after you.
When holding onto items becomes a safety hazard, its
time that they be retired. If an item or object means
that much to you, ask to decommission or otherwise
compensate the organization for their cast-off so you
can keep it in your personal collection while staying
above the letter of the law. And lets not forget
overcrowding, overstuffing, and over-saving can create
life safety and fire hazard conditions, too.

Fabricated shelves and labeled bins help maintain order

in a storage shed at the Greenbelt Nature Center

Safety gear is much easier to find in cheerful, colorful storage bins

(the backup toilet paper becomes easier to find as well)

5. Make it fun. Make it a competition, mix some music into

the process, or do a big organization job into smaller
sections/rooms with incentives or rewards after each
section is completed. With the whole team working
together or in friendly competition against one another
(see item 3), the team may not even begrudge the
annual (see item 2) cleanup commitment.
Tidy, happy tidings to you and your operation! When you see
the results it might even convince you to try to keep things
that way!
6

Pathways Summer 2015

by Snapper Petta

Ramblings from Red Hill

The Motivation to Mow

Of all the seasonal tasks that need doing on Red
Hill, the one I detest the most is mowing. During
the early season, our lawn demands a cutting
cycle that requires attention every 3 to 4 days. As
the summer progresses, a lack of rainfall creates
a crunchy, brown ground cover which blooms
everywhere but our acreage. For us, the drought
resistant weeds that pass for grass need only a
heavy dew to keep growing. From this point on, a
lull of about 5 days occur between mowings. This
will occur until the first killing frost appears in
early October. With almost half a year required
for lawn maintenance, motivation is needed to get
behind the mower this frequently. Thankfully our
landscape provides various incentives throughout
the growing season.
Early in the season, our lawn becomes a carpet of
yellow. While many people despise dandelions,
the sunshine at my feet makes this time outdoors
all the brighter. Within a few days these weeds
will bloom to white, releasing their seeds in the
lightest of winds. At this time Ill most likely
find a vulture feather or two since they perch on
our barns peak, soaking in all of springs early
sunshine. Mowing out towards the pond Im
treated to flowering apple trees; the oldest one
on the property establishing itself again as the
showiest tree in the neighborhood.

Pathways Summer 2015

By the time June rolls around the lilacs are in

full blossom, swaying rhythmically in the breeze.
Bookended by forsythia, the blocks of yellow and
purple present a splash of color no one can miss.
Looking downward youd be hard pressed to miss
the small flashes of red, exposing the hiding place
of wild strawberries as they grow amongst the
clover. By now our blueberries are beginning to
burst forth with new growth, only adding to my
anticipation for this years crop. Mowing out to the
pond I witness numerous sunfish finning over their
nests, keeping silt off the eggs nestled in gravel
depressions. Small bass, last years young most
likely, hold up in the weeds that offer a safe refuge
from larger predators.
As summer progresses the raspberry bushes add
a touch of purple and black to their surroundings.
Slated for pies, jam and other desserts, the berries
grow into plump juicy treats, making it difficult
not to eat them on the spot as I pass with the
mower. My route continues past my wifes garden
where a multi-colored array of vegetables grows.
Beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, lettuce, potatoes
and more; each will eventually find its way to
our dinner table or freezer for the winter months
ahead. Looking into the garden my inattention
rewards me with the smell of fresh mint as I cut
over some wild plants growing outside the fence.

The aroma awakens me to the realization that occasionally

allowing your mind to wander has its benefits.
The onset of September doesnt minimize the need to mow
but it does coincide with cooler days and nights, which
allows for some personal freedom between cuttings. The
advantage to this extended timeframe is natures changes
are more noticeable when you dont see them every other
day. While subtle at first, the maples, ash and other trees
creep slowly forward to their autumnal glory. Soon enough
Ill be mowing under arbors of gold, orange, purple and
crimson. A surer sign that the season of mowing will soon
be behind me cannot be found anywhere. By the time

October rolls around these cheerful harbingers of fall will

begin their downward spiral, drifting softly to their final
resting place. Without warning well wake up one morning
to feathered fingers of white caressing each of these fragile
leaf skeletons. The frost-shrouded ground announces that
its time, ready the mower for winters rest! While Im happy
the lawn cutting is over for another year, but silently Ill
miss all Ive been fortunate to witness over the past months.
Without it, thered be no motivation to mow.
Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new and
exciting places.

Pathways Summer 2015

Northern Woodlands Writers & Readers Conference 2015

Contact Emily Rowe, [email protected]

Event Notice
Northern Woodlands Writers & Readers Conference
October 16 18, 2015
Enjoy a weekend at Hulbert Outdoor Center on beautiful
Lake Morey in Fairlee, Vermont, while engaging with
well-known writers, editors, and educators. In addition to
workshops and talks, there will be panel discussions, nature
walks, and fun extras such as an open mic night, syrup
tasting, and smores around the fire.
This conference will explore how writers, artists, and
educators express the rich forest heritage of the Northeast:
both the natural history of our region and the interactions
of people and place. The event is organized by The Center
for Northern Woodlands Education (Northern Woodlands),
the nonprofit that publishes Northern Woodlands magazine,
and the Aloha Foundations Hulbert Outdoor Center. It is
sponsored by The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit

Pathways Summer 2015

well known in the area for its critical role facilitating major
conservation efforts, including the Brushwood Community
Forest, the Randolph Community Forest, and the 13 Mile
Forest in Errol.
This years conference includes a number of prominent
speakers from New England and New York, including
bestselling natural history author Bernd Heinrich, illustrator
David Macaulay, conservationist and author Peter Forbes,
bear authority Ben Kilham, childrens book illustrator Robin
Brickman, and place-based education leader David Sobel.
Overnight (shared cabin) lodging and day rates are
available, and all meals are provided. Teacher professional
development certificates will be distributed. Enrollment
is limited. Complete workshop descriptions, presenter
biographies, and registration information can be found here:
http://northernwoodlands.org/writersconference - or email
Emily Rowe: [email protected].

Seasonal

Book Review
Reviewed by Jessica R. Kratz
[email protected]

Sharing Nautre: Nature Awareness Activities for All Ages

By Joseph Cornell
Paperback: 216 pages (8.5x5.5)
ISBN: 978-1-56589-287-3 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-56589-554-6 (epub)
Publisher: Crystal Clarity Publishers, Nevada City, CA.
Publication date: June 2015
www.sharingnature.com
This book is available from various online retailers as a
paperback and is also available as a eBook.

To create a society that truly loves and reveres the natural world,
we must offer its citizens life-changing experiences in nature.
Joseph Bharat Cornell
Cornells highly-anticipated work, released for the 35th
anniversary of Sharing Nature with Children, is a wonderful
addition to any classroom, nature center, or school library.
A brief introduction by Richard Louv celebrates the essence
and imperative of this book and of Cornells extensive
previous body of work. Tamarack Song frames Cornells work
in its historical context, showing how Cornell responded
to Rachel Carsons call to arms to bring children under
the influence of nature, yet how the sobering accounts of
Richard Louvs Last Child in the Woods and Bill McKibbens
The End of Nature, demonstrate the need for his further
reaching, age-inclusive volume.
Informed and enriched by nearly four decades of sharing his
approach to nature education worldwide, Sharing Nature
is structured according to the Flow Learning process, which
Cornell has been using since the 1980s. To facilitate ease of
use and reference, each step is assigned an animal symbol.
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Activities included in Stage One, Awaken Enthusiasm,

are indicated by an otter (characteristics: playfulness and
alertness). Stage Two, Focus Attention, whose quality is
receptivity, is marked with a crow (alert observer). Stage
Three, Offer Direct Experience, is represented by a bear, as
bears are known for curiosity and introspection. Stage Four,
Share Inspiration, is symbolized by a dolphin, as dolphins
are considered to be gregarious, altruistic, and cooperative.
Whereas the original volume contained black and white
photographs and pen-and-ink illustrations, the pages of
Sharing Nature are generously illustrated with colorful
inspirational scenery demonstrating the use of the activities
in the field.
While the look, feel, and functionality of the book is
distinctly modern, Cornell has shown great restraint in
keeping the volume timeless. The vast majority of the
journey can be completed using the paperback, the limited
supplies [i.e., blindfolds, pencils/paper] indicated in the lower
right hand corner of each activity, and of course, the great
outdoors. In that vein, Cornell has chosen to include only a
tasteful handful of online resources where it would directly
Pathways Summer 2015

enhance the activity, such as printable handouts, clue cards,

quotation cards, and MP3 files of his inspirational songs.
These can be found at www.sharenature.org. Additionally,
Cornell provides a list of games in alphabetical order and a
Find the Best Game appendix, which is very useful for an
on-the-go camp counselor looking for a rainy day activity,
a facilitator looking for something geared towards adults,
or a parent looking for an educational experience for young
children.

I had the opportunity to review this book in early
summer, as camp was about to start and I was planning
homeschool lessons for the following school year. Though
I am primarily an administrator by profession, reading
through the activities brought me back to when I started
out in the EE field in the early 2000s an Urban Park Ranger. I
instantly gravitated towards the Bat and Moth activity [p.
70] for my homeschoolers, and a few days after immersing
myself in Sharing Nature, I decided to write a Vertical Poem
[p.144] about FrogWatch, a monthly citizen science night
hike series a colleague and I run from early spring-August.

Sharing Nature is instantly inspiring. It is the
perfect primer for pre-service teachers, parents, and nascent
naturalists, and the perfect refresher course for experienced
educators and administrators. Immerse yourself in a copy
for a few hours- then head outdoors renewed and ready to
facilitate memorable moments and instill joy in all with
whom you share this journey.

Invitation for Articles and News.

The PATHWAYS team is always eager to hear from
members and publish the articles that they have authored
or news or event announcements that they would like
to share with fellow members. We invite you to send
your submission for our next issue. Simply send us the
text with any supporting material -- pictures, newspaper
clippings, and more. We can receive it in any of the ways
listed below.

Advertising in Pathways
Pathways welcomes advertisements which will be
of interest to the membership of NYSOEA. If you have
a product, service, equipment, resource, program, etc.
that you would like to share with our membership via
an advertisement, we can receive it through any of the
following ways.
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (607) 753-5982
Mail: Darleen M. Lieber
Ref: Pathways Advertisement / Article
SUNY Cortland RPLS Dept.
PO Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045
Materials should be typed. Please include a short
biographical section about the author of the article.
References cited in the article should be listed at the end
of the article, APA style.
(ISSN 1077-5100) PATHWAYS is published four times a
year by the New York State Outdoor Education Association
and is emailed to NYSOEA members. Opinions expressed
by contributors are theirs solely and not necessarily
those of the Editorial Board of pathways or of NYSOEA.
Advertisements included in pathways should not be
interpreted as endorsement of the product(s) by NYSOEA.

NYSOEA Executive Board

Regional Directors

Pathways

President Tim Stanley

VP Administration Elizabeth Young
VP Communication Eric Powers
VP Human Resources Jessica Kratz
VP Program - Jolene Thompson
Secretary - Loren Smith, Ph.D.
Treasurer - Elizabeth Van Acker
Office - Darleen Lieber

Eastern - Kate Brill

Metro - Sunny Corrao
Northern - Brian DeGroat
Western - Kimberly Adriaansen
Central - Josh Teeter

Issue Editors
Jill Eisenstein
Jessica Kratz

Online Content/
Marketing Manager
Jonathan Duda

Graphic Designer
Matthew Fraher

Contributing
Past Editors
Frank Knight
Snapper Petta

Pathways Summer 2015

2015 NYSOEA Conference

Kate Brill
Susan Hereth
Rebecca Houser
2015 Conference Co-Chairs

Content Editors
Jill Eisenstein
Frank Knight
Darleen Lieber
Maren Morsch

11

c/o Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies

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Cortland, New York 13045

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NYSOEA is a professional organization that promotes interdisciplinary life-long learning in, for, and about the outdoors
and seeks to inspire appreciation of the environment by all people.