Be sure to ask plenty of questions, pay close attention, contribute, and immerse yourselves in these next two weeks as if life depends on it...as that just might be the case.
Naturally Yours,
Todd Klawinski
GSE Instructor
Back To Nature
Summer 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Welcome Scholars of the New Jersey Governor's School on the Environment - 2008
Hey there scholars! You are enrolled in my summer 2008 'Back To Nature' course here at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. You will also be accessing and making entries here on this 'Back To Nature' blog-spot throughout the next 2 weeks and hopefully throughout your senior year as well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Hey there Mr. Klawinski and fellow classmates!
I am so excited about the next two weeks, and looking forward to working with you all. I feel honored to be a part of this. :) See you soon, and happy Independence day!
Hi Mr. Klawinski and everyone,
I'm thrilled to be a part of this program-particularly this class-and I can't wait to meet everyone. See you Sunday!
Happy Independence Day.
Hello, i am excited to meet everyone and learn a lot, so see you soon.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the death of Mother Nature. Here on Dunns Mill Road a landfill is to be built in place of forest land. With a landfill comes great probability of toxins releasing in to the surrounding environment. This land was once a school and playhouse-- anything the Bordentown children dreamt of, nature became. When the children played hide-and-go-seek so did the birds and the various creatures of the underbrush. Mother Nature is alive and thriving within these woods. Take into consideration the beautiful blue jay or the majestic red cardinal. Do the waste products of mankind truly outweigh the cherished earth in which allows for our existence in the first place? Worst of all, a public high school lies right across the street from this proposed landfill. The pungent odor will not only impede upon the learning process but also serves as a constant reminder to our young generation that industrialization is perfectly acceptable. Upon this gravestone-- as the death of this beloved forest is inevitable-- will have the words "never again"; because never again will the environmental effort allow such a horrific turn of events to unfold. For now this forest must be laid to rest in hopes that its destruction will prevent any more of its kind. Goodbye beautiful trees and may we hold close to our hearts experiences we have had in relation to this land. The trees may no longer stand but in our hearts they grow larger than ever. Mother Nature deserves better than this continued destruction as she is the oldest and most experienced teacher. We leave here today with the knowledge that human nature must change. While this may only be a small area of land in comparison to the surrounding world, its destruction is symbolic of fading human connection with the land. We must rebuild this connection and help to secure its adoption. The land is not ours to abuse.
Ruchi Patel
07/11/08
Death Sermon
In Memory of a Backyard…
Dearly beloved, we are gathered hear today to lament the death of this precious piece of land—this ancient backyard, in which I have enjoyed my most precious childhood memories. When I was a toddler, my mother would bring me out into the backyard with a magnifying glass, and together, we would examine fascinating aspects of the lawn. At nightfall, we would chase after fireflies, attempting to enclose them in glass jars. When I was seven, my backyard was two-in-one sports quarter—a soccer and a softball field combined, where I scored my first goal and landed my first home run. During my early adolescence, my backyard was a sweet escape from the pressures of school and home life. I would lay in the grass, smelling the fresh air and listening to the sound of minute grass life, to relieve stresses and dry unwanted tears. But this landscape was more than just a family playground, a homey outdoor escape.
White in winter, blooming in spring, green in summer, and lush in autumn, this backyard has been an ecosystem in itself for years. For longer than I can remember, this backyard has been the home of various species of animals and plants. Sparrow and blue jay rejoiced in the morning dew, as daisies and roses flaunted their petals with sunrise. The leaves of trees and bushes alike rustled in the afternoon breeze. Deer, raccoon, and rabbit scurried across the land in the gray of dusk, as icy frost settled in tiny droplets on every blade of grass.
But today this lovely backyard is no more. Today, life and love lie under cold, flat pavement, never to be seen again. Today, a black-tar driveway crushes all of the beauty and magnificence of my beloved backyard. “From dust we were made and to dust we shall go,” a common adage reads. Now, we have forgotten this compact with earth, burying true value under innovative obstructions that will outlive our daughters and sons and their daughters and sons. We have created a shrine of permanence on earth, whose objects of devotion shall never wash away with rain, erode with wind, or wither in summer heat. From these objects, no new life shall arise. No creatures shall be nourished by their death, to nourish others in turn, but live in eternal death, their short lives wasted at our hands. My backyard epitomizes this tragic truth of our world.
Thus, we are here to pay our last respects to a piece of earth that will not die, but will sleep beneath concrete, waiting to breathe again. May this loss inspire us to reverse this trend of suburbanization before it destroys all of our beautiful green earth as we know it. May it inspire us to live without harming the earth that gives us life. We must save our earth to consecrate our compact to live gently on the land.
-Based on A Funeral Service for Land Buried by Sprawl by Daveena Tauber
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the death of this backyard. This area was a place for owners to escape from the stresses of life into thier own private area of serenity. It was the home of many animals as well as the place of many childhood memories. For me, it was a place to pick ripe tomatoes, swing on the swings, and lounge with my family. It is unfortunate that it is gone, especially since the death of the land was a quick and brutal one.
It started in 2003, when we decided to adopt a dog. It took many months of searching but we finally found the perfect cocker spaniel. Her name was Sammy and she brought a new happiness to our household that we were surprised to find. It did not take long until we started to see some negative changes in our household. The house started to smell a little different, there were more tennis balls lying around, and there we would always have to endure a ten minute barking session whenever the mailman arrived. All of these changes were observed, but the most obvious one was seen in the backyard.
The backyard used to be full of life. The grass was lush and had a beautiful shade of green. Colorful flowers also grew, reminding us when it was springtime. Once Sammy joined our family this backyard ceased to exist. Her pee and poop killed everything in sight. The grass now grows in tiny patches, flowers never bloom, and our old vegetable garden is now her playground.
I am sad to say goodbye to this beautiful place. I have spent all of my younger years enjoying life there and now I barely step foot back there. It is unfortunate that my backyard is now a barren place.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of the beloved wooden playground which stood on the grounds of Sandshore Elementary School. It was the staple of play and being outdoors for many a generation of child that passed through to educational facility. It brought joy to people, not just children, but those children’s parents who got joy out of watching their children be so happy. This happiness spreads, and makes the whole community feel like a better place.
There are many of us here who remember a time when there was no plastic and metal playground next to the wooden one. We remember when the wooden one was all we has, and we loved it. Sure, after the new, plastic and metal playground was built up next to the wooden one, we played on it, but we always moved back to the wooden one in the end. It was our home, our first experience, familiarity. The loss of this great wooden playground is like loosing a piece of our hearts, a piece of our childhood.
We can never truly replace the humble wooden playground with modern plastic and metal. Sure, this is what ended up happening, but it is loved as dearly as the old wooden? No. Wood ahs a much more pleasing feel to human beings. You can not stick to wood like you can to plastic and metal. Wood does not get burning hot in the sun. But it’s more than that. A wooden playground simply feels right. It feels like home. It’s not trying to separate kids from the world, like the modern, plastic playgrounds do, but incorporate it into our way of life.
So we remember this fond playground with happy memories, and our souls into the pieces that may remain of the once glorious place. And as we watched the playground be dismantled, we felt as though the person was taking away a piece of our childhoods, a piece of our hearts. It is something that can never be replaced.
Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here today to mourn the burial of the land near Lake Topanemus. Located in Monmouth County, this piece of earth in Marlboro, which has been here for longer than any of us can fathom, has recently been destroyed by humans. The high vehicular traffic that runs on the road nearby has caused its death, but this disaster cannot overshadow the positive effects of this land on the environment. The land has nourished the nearby trees, animals, and lake. The land has kept its green through the freezing winter and the lifeless white snow. The land has seen and endured the blazing heat from the sun during the summer.
For too many years to count, this land was isolated from human contact, able to thrive with human alteration. Once people came, this land provided for its inhabitants, giving humans grasses, fruits, acorns, stones, and wood. Now these same people are abusing these resources, not preserving the land that once supplied them so well before.
We are here to pay our last respects, as this land has been degraded by human activity. I hope the loss of this land may be a lesson to people and help preserve other lands in the region.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of these fireflies, and to mourn their passing. For generations, man has walked these lands accompanied by a steady stream of lanterns radiating from glowing abdomens. The iridescent shine is unique in nature and evokes nostalgia and a sense of awe among humans, regardless of age. The flickering green dots once marked the start of summer, as well as the period between the setting of the sun and the arrival of the incessant biting insects.
Over the years, it became obvious that the population was not well. The chronic disease of pesticides tore at the populace. Lawns that used to be carpeted with insects are now carpeted with chemicals. We must ask ourselves, is this trade is worthwhile; can a greener lawn replace the presence of a fireflies glow?
Not only are we sad for the loss of life, but also for the loss of these lives’ presence in the lives of the children, the children’s children, and their children as well. Summer days used to end with gaggles of children chasing after the fireflies – now this is not an option.
We leave here today with our hearts and minds with those little insect that will never again rise from the grasses to shed their light. Perhaps, we can look at these lost lives, and change how we treat and pollute our surroundings. The lives should not be lost in vain.
07-07-08
Richard Stockton College B002
8:00A
Each member in our class put his/her morals, dreams, and passions, onto a single piece of paper through visuals and sparse words. Each paper, from that time until the simulation was over at 10:00A, was theoretically, the MOST important thing in the world to them. These treasures were presented in roughly 30 seconds by their creator and then put into a single black floder.
Our teacher, Todd, then asked who considered themselves to be good decision makers. Those who raised their hands were given instructions on what to do with the random piece of paper they were to select from the folder.
Ruchi and Steve were the first partakers in this simulation. They were instructed to rip up the paper they each held in three seconds. Ruchi's reaction was priceless. As she watched her own paper being rippped up by Steve in a nonchalant manner, she was absolutely horrified. After much egging on, she started to rip up the paper she held in her hands. Although she wasn't aware of whose paper she had chosen, she apologized with every tear she made.
Diana and Julian were the next two go and were instructed to tape together their pieces of paper in any way they saw fit. Immediately, almost viciously, Diana crumpled the papers together and rushed to tape them. Julian laughed, and not arguing with her method, followed in suit.
Finally, Cynthia and Claire were given Sharpie markers and told to alter the papers in whatever manner they wanted. Claire used the thick edge of her black marker to make a frame around the edges of the paper. Cyn displayed her artistic skills by ripping the edges of the paper. Her final product, was surprisingly a flower.
When applied to the "big picture" of the world with a focus on how it pertains to the environment, this simulation displays why some groups, regardless of what kind, are disregarded and some are taken into consideration. The papers can each symbolize the environment and various groups working to protect the environment. Their welfare may be completely overlooked, blatantly not cared for, or purposely destructed. At the samne time, it could be beautified or tweaked to make so the needs of all partieds involved come to a compromise. As in the simulation, that leader may be egged on or just watched in shock. It all depends on the decision maker's conscience and the circumstances they are put under.
7-8-08
Dwarf Plains, Greenwood Forest, BaToNa Trail, and Basto Village
Sunny, Windy
9:00A
When you arrive on the sandy road of Warren Grove Bombing Range, you see plains of dwarf pitcvh pines. THey look like sprawled bushes tha have no shape. ALong with the dwarf pitch pines are dwarf red o ak trees, charred branches, and blackened pine cones. The pine cones were the type that do not open and release their seeds unless there is heat or fire. The Grove was completely wpied out previously due to a bomb that was accidentally set off by the army base. Todd pointed out that on the edge of the road were medium height trees. The Pigme Pines were genetically created when sceinctisits cross bred the dwarf pones and the pitch pines. We started off on a white sandy trail that was lined with the red oak and dwarf pines. We arrived at an area called the oasis inwhich all pines and shrubs are normal sized. We hypothesized that the soil, water, humans, bombing, or genetic mutations may affect the drastic growth between the two areas. One obvious difference was the sphagnum moss was completely covering the ground. The fascinating fact about this type of moss is that it can hold up to two hundred ties its weight in water. There were also more bird sounds in the asis because they could nest in the more full sized trees abd Fetter bushes, that had orange resign spots on the leaves. UV radiation maybe the cause of thse spots, but it still remains unclear. The dwarf trees aew quite interesting because they are smaller due to the fact that they are nuch more seceptable to fires, as a result of the bombing range. It takes more energy to have a pine grow taller than if it focsed in expanding outwards. Alond with the Pigme pines on the side of the driveway, there was groundcover that was so vast because it was much like a vine.
The next stop we made was at Greenwood Forest, which began directly off the side of the highway. You walk about five minutes off the road where you are released into an open area that has a viewing deck on top of marshy land. We were instructed to locate three of the plants from the packet in which we found the Pitcher plant, Thread-leaved Sundew, and Marsh St. John's Wart. the Pitcher plant was the most visually appealing because of te pitcher-like leaves and beautiful red/purple flower. The Thread-Leaved Sundew was the coolest feeling plant because if its sticky, red hair-like dews that atrracted insects. Lastly, Marsh St. John's Wart was the most useful plant due to it's medicinal purposes.
I would never imagine that the smallest plant in the Forest was endangered, the Durly Grass Fern. It was a little gross/worm looking fern that grew under the shade of the deck.
Our last hiking avtivity for the day was BaToNa Trail that was mainly flat, shadey, and sandy. The trail was only about a foot and a half wide that was surrounded by dangleberry, huckleberry, and blueberry bushes, ferns, and oak and pine trees. The tall trees created a cooling canopy that echoed the bird calls. As you looked out across the forest and underbrush that surrounded you, all you could see was a variety of healthy shades of green. We walked to the top of Apple Pie Hill, ate lunch, climbed the fire tower, and hiked back down. The tower gave you a view of hundreds of miles, but not in great detail. Half way down, at the start of the smaller trail, we walked in silence to listen ti thge sounds, smell the scents, and taste the forest flavors.
After lunch and the hike, we went to Basto Village and swam in the Mullica River, which contained a lot of iron. The water was a brownish-orange color and the sand reflect the iron in the sun.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn and recall the beautiful memories of the little shack that sat in a vast region of land, filled with old yet strong trees and rich soil. This was a place where three generations lived and left their footprints on this earth. Although overlooked and abandoned by most passerbys, it nevertheless stole a piece of our hearts. Its existence shall never be forgotten.
In this land, in this earth, I hold recollections of my early childhood with my older brother. Being in this area, which we called, Sparrow’s Field, filled our hearts with tranquility. We used to lay down on the grass and plot bread on the floor just to watch sparrows of all different shades of brown come and pick their food. The birds came from various locations and surrounded us. We did this so often that eventually the population of these wonderful birds increased but just slightly (for a few of us noticed). Well until now, however, the birds have come and gone. Less and less, I see have appeared. The birds are going, The trees are gone. The grasses are gone. The red and white roses that Mrs. Rodriguez (may she rest in peace) used to plant has also gone. Unfortunately, we will never be able to smell that exotic aroma those roses released into the atmosphere - that pleasing scent that teased. Or will we be able to step on the grass that soothed our eyes. Or will be able to shade our skin from the burning heat of the sun. Or will we be able to watch the feathers perform before us. The only element left behind is the soil, that fruitful soil. I remember how the soil would always damp my clothes as I laid down to watch the clouds above me swim across the ocean sky, as I watched the sparrows fly by, as I spaced out. Alas, all is lost, all is gone. Though the shack is longer here, nor the sparrows, nor the trees, nor the grasses. All the same, Sparrow’s Field continues to live within us as we have all become one with nature.
Now, we leave here today holding our cherished memories close to our hearts. Let us carry on its existence with our lives. Let us never let this happen to our other precious land. Lets stay strong and prevent our land from becoming devoured by the greedy, the non-caring, and the ignorant. I say, Sparrow’s Field live on.
Post a Comment