We often imagine adventure as something grand: climbing a mountain, embarking on an odyssey, or traveling somewhere completely unfamiliar. But adventure can also be found much closer to home. Sometimes, all it takes is a walk in the woods and a willingness to notice what’s around you.
When looking for somewhere to explore, there are five things I look for. Is there somewhere to hike? Can I go birding? Will I encounter and learn from local wildlife? Are there interesting plants to identify? Can I enjoy the outdoors in a way that helps care for the environment?
I call this the “Explore More Challenge,” and the Connecticut River Valley has dozens of places that pass the test.
One of those places is Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, where I spent two seasons with the Afterschool program. At Hitchcock, I saw these five elements come together again and again.
Hiking
Going out into the woods with Hitchcock kids always feels like an adventure, especially venturing into what we call “The Faraway Woods” on Hampshire College’s campus. While we grownups tend to plan ahead to our destination, often the best adventures — and even better, new discoveries — happen when we let the trail lead and see what catches our attention. A fallen tree is the perfect playground, the bearings for a fort, or a hiking stick factory. And sometimes, a hike leads to something unexpected.
Birding
One afternoon, our Afterschool group hiked down to the creek. The kids were splashing in the water, playing tag and tossing a tennis ball back and forth, when a barred owl suddenly landed in a tree on our side of the creek.
Everyone stopped where they were on the creek bank to watch the owl. Some watched her for a few minutes and went back to their game. Others stayed for nearly an hour, whispering to one another about everything they knew about owls as they watched her and she watched them right back.
Eventually, the owl locked onto something scurrying in the duff and swooped away to hunt. It was really amazing to watch, and right in our own backyard.
Wildlife
That same sense of curiosity appeared during a spring Vacation Days program when our students discovered what’s called a “kill site,” an area where an animal had been preyed upon and the predator left evidence behind.
These sites bring up different reactions for different people, but the kids were nothing but curious. They called their friends over to investigate and began making observations and asking questions. What animal had been there? What predator might have caught it? Why would an animal leave behind feathers or fur?
Plants
One of my last Afterschool days in the spring coincided with the beginning of pink lady’s slipper season. I had heard only a few bloomed in the area just a few years earlier, but that day, we found a patch growing across the forest floor.
We spent time searching through the leaf litter and appreciating each bulbous pink flower. After a long winter, they were a welcome sign that warmer weather was on its way. It was also an opportunity to talk about other plant species that we sometimes see more than others, and what we can do to cultivate space for them to thrive.
Respectful recreation
The final part of the Explore More Challenge is perhaps the most important: Can we enjoy these natural spaces while also taking care of them?
Over the summer, an elementary school class came to spend the day at Hitchcock Center’s Living Building while studying conservation in their science unit at school. I tagged along during their visit, learning different ways buildings can be designed with conservation in mind.
The students made drawings of the solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, rainwater collection barrels, and composting system on site. They also talked about ways they conserve resources at home and how those choices help the environment.
Respectful recreation is more than the time we spend outside; it’s also being mindful in the spaces we visit and considering how our choices affect them.
A strong wonder for nature is something I’ve carried with me my whole life, and I love to see that same wonder in the budding young naturalists I’ve been lucky enough to work with. Chirps from a bird’s nest or a set of tracks in the mud are all it takes to spark curiosity.
Challenge yourself to notice nature all around you. Our Valley offers countless opportunities to explore, and adventure doesn’t have to be far away. The only thing standing between you and your own grand adventure is the alacrity to Explore More.
Jenna Audlin (they/she) is the author of The Explore More Challenge for Kids, a series of outdoor activity books designed for young explorers and their families. Jenna worked with Hitchcock Center’s afterschool program while attending Hampshire College, and currently studies environmental education at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. See more of Jenna’s work at exploremorechallenge.com.
Earth Matters has been a project of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment since 2009. HCE’s mission is to educate and to inspire action for a healthy planet. Our Living Building and trails are open to all at 845 West St. in Amherst. To learn more, visit hitchcockcenter.org.