Connecting to nature

As I make final preparations for the Sharon Audubon Festival coming up Aug. 13-14, I have been thinking again about how to instill a “culture of conservation” where the conservation ethic is automatic in all people. Conservation wouldn’t happen without people. And, conversely, you could safely say there would be no need for conservation if it weren’t for people and their impact on natural resources. For individuals to take active steps to conserve our environment, there needs to be a reason, be it aesthetic, emotional, biological, spiritual, financial or all of the above.I have always believed that awareness and opportunity are the keys to getting people thinking about conservation. Building an “awareness” of the importance of nature, however, that is defined for an individual, leads to a desire to protect it.There also needs to be the “opportunity” to develop this awareness about nature in nature, away from the fast-paced technological life that we all share. Such opportunities include parks, nature centers and other open spaces for explorations. A family walk on a quiet country road or a few minutes of silence in the backyard at night to listen to the sounds of owls, amphibians and insects is a great way to connect to nature. Resources such as facilitated school field trips and events — like the Audubon Festival — all add to the opportunities available within our community. These experiences, whether informal or structured, stay with people throughout their lives and mold the way they think and act. For 44 years, the Sharon Audubon Festival has brought in expert naturalists from the Tri-state area to share their love of nature with our greater community. It is one way that we can help connect people to nature in a fun and exciting way, with live animal programs, nature walks and presentations for all ages and experience levels, music and ongoing exhibits and activities. As always, I encourage you to get outside with your family to enjoy what nature has to offer. For more information about the Sharon Audubon Festival, go online to www.sharon.audubon.org, or pick up a program at one of our local businesses. Scott Heth is the director of Audubon Sharon and can be reached at sheth@audubon.org, (subject line: Nature Notes).

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