During a recent visit to South Carolina, I had a relaxing walk on the beach with my nephew Adam, who is a recent college graduate. We were discussing all things nature as I love to be in and photograph nature and he loves to be in and hunt/fish in nature. He mentioned how kids these days don’t seem to spend much time outdoors anymore. They’re all plugged in and tuned out, living in electronically-enhanced worlds. When he was kid, he was always outside fishing or running around with friends. . . very similar now to how he lives & works in his adult life. As we walked and talked, he was picking up trash from this island beach and complaining how people don’t respect nature any more. And then he said, “You know, you conserve what you love, and most kids aren’t spending enough time outside to want to protect T-H-I-S.”
This rang so true for me and made me sad. But then I remembered how on a visit to the Chesapeake Bay I enjoyed another remote spot that has been preserved by duck hunters. And I thought about the small donations I send to Nature Conservancy because they are setting aside as much land as possible as undeveloped spaces. I love it when I see their sign designating a protected area and I think: “Hey, maybe I helped with that.”
Like in all cases, there are good and bad scenarios. Do we sometimes not do enough, sure. Can we always do more, you bet! It’s my hope for our kids and grandkids, of course, that in addition to those people who work tirelessly to make a difference, that even people who are spending more and more time with their computers, PDAs, cell phones and such, will also still have enough of a fondness for trees, oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, marshes, swamps, deserts, and mountains to support the efforts of those who protect and preserve. . . and to take some time like Adam did—even on a day when he was out at the beach partying with friends—to stop and pick up some trash.
Thank you for that conversation and reminder, Adam. Thank you for the walk.
[Photo above: Adam and his dog Daisy, Morris Island, SC]
This is all so true. But I am reminded frequently that there is much undeveloped land still out there. Places to escape to and refresh my spirit. I am reminded of this everytime I take the kayak out into a local creek, everytime we go back to WV and drive through the mountains, when I hike on the AT to a beautiful but not so remote waterfall passing a father and young daughter who are primitive camping, or taking a group of college kids floating down the river where they are totally relaxed and not in any hurry to be anywhere else.
I would also like to think that while it seems kids these days are not outside like we were, there is a shift back to spending more time outside. Once you start getting out you also realize how many people really do enjoy, respect, and protect the outdoors. And are spreading the word…
Great point, Marcia! I think about that too: how I see so much undeveloped land in the places I visit. I do hope that the message is being heard and that people are responding more and more to protect those spaces and to create new protected spaces! Thanks for your response and I really enjoyed our kayaking!