Let’s connect back to nature

Almost all of my poetry and picture book stories are inspired by nature – by getting outside and the adventures I have. 

It’s a glimpse into the moment after a long day of rock climbing, when a thunderstorm was looming near, and we rushed around camp prepping dinner, electricity thick in the air. Another is about a pause on a hike with my daughter where we put our feet into a cool creek in the Utah desert and splashed around for a bit. For me, these moments are a connection to something bigger, a link to the ecosystem that we are a part of in this huge world. 

Earth day was a couple weeks ago now, but whether it’s because I work at an environmental nonprofit, or because my hobbies get me outside, I’m often thinking about society's lack of connection to the earth. Most people (including me) are pretty disconnected from the natural world. We spend almost all of our days in buildings – houses, schools, offices. We get around by driving in cars. Even for those that live in cities, where walking is the mode of transportation, they are surrounded by concrete and tall buildings, only able to see the sky if they look directly up. 

And so I am always asking, how will we get people to care about the earth? If we foster a greater connection and understanding of nature, we hopefully will be able to shift our systems to better align with it, instead of polluting and ruining place after place. 

What can I do to bring the next generation a little bit closer to the natural world and help them see we are actually a part of it? 

I hope to inspire kids and families with my writing. To inspire families to get outside and play in the dirt, to look up at the sky and watch a sunset, to observe with their eyes, touch, and smell. At the end of the day when we’re tucking our little ones into bed, we can re-experience the magic of nature through pictures and words.