Intro to Environmental Studies 24

I my high school oceanography class our end of year project was to make an invention that would solve an environment issue and I started researching the newest inventions made in resent years to help combat environment issues. The reason that I mention that is that I recently came across a video that talks about 22 invention that are saving the world. I definitely recommend taking the time to watch the 7 minute video, it gave very interesting examples and a couple that related directly to the field of study that I wish to go into! My favorite examples were the liter of light invention and the Baltimore trach wheel. The liter of light made it possible for poorer communities to assemble there own lighting souse made from old plastic bottles, which is both a good way to reuse plastic bottles and bring electricity to communities that might not have any. The Baltimore trach wheel was actually one of the invitations that I based my high school oceanography project on, an invention that focus...

After researching different outdoor classroom and garden ideas I begin to think about additional ways that we can teach the next generation to value and love the environment around them. I began to think about ways from my own childhood that made me appreciate the beauty of nature and came upon the topic of Books! Children's book especially those that are both equally interesting and encourage kids to care for the environment as extremely important and impactful, so as funny as it sounds my outside reading for this blog is based on a children's book that teaches about the environment. The book I found is called "The river that flows besides me" by Charlotte Guillain that talks about how water travels a very long distance. With beautiful illustration which are engaging to children combined with lots of good information include, Dams with fish ladders, gorges, and terms like upper course and riverbed. By creating more books that teach about the environment with children...

An important part of environmental conservation is looking for those little way that we can do that makes a world of change. I came across an article recently that talked about how dairy farmers are are known as some of the most reusable water users. The was defiantly bias because it was published by a website called "Undeniable dairy", but the article still gave some interesting statistics including that, in 2008  5.1% of American water use  was used on dairy farms! This shocking news was followed up be staying that, " Thanks to increasingly modern and  innovative dairy farming practices , the  environmental impact of producing a gallon of milk  in 2017 shrunk significantly, requiring 30% less water". This statistics was very good to hear and made me think about the still huge changes that need to happen in order to reduce that amount of water used even more. https://www.usdairy.com/sustainability/environmental-sustainability?gclsrc=aw.ds&&campaignid=21...

 I recently found an article talking about different practical ideas for building an school garden and also had some engaging teaching activities to do with kids. I thought it was supper cute and got me thinking about teaching again as a potential field to go into! I really love working with kids in general and the idea of impacting them in a positive way is something that I am really interested in. I had an ok school experience, but I also know the struggles that came from "being different" or behind in subjects like reading and spelling, and if I became a teacher I would want to work with kids who may feel the same. I also would really want to make a garden club or potentially work at an alternative school that teaches using nature. Conservation awareness varies drastically between generations and I believe that in order to promote more love of nature we need to incorporate more school gardens and outdoor classrooms. https://www.greenschoolyards.org/school-gardens-2

 On page 235 of " The American Camino", by Kip Redick, Dr. Redick is exploring the idea of how hiking on the AT can be a religious experience even if the person is non-religious. At first I found this idea puzzling because of the social understanding of the world today-a person being apart or of practicing a certain religion. But after reading more of the text I began to understand that religion is, quote, "[I]s the relationship humans have with a transcendent and ultimate authority/power". I admit that I still don't see the difference between this definition and a spiritual experience and that made me think of my own definition or understanding of the two words. To me having spiritual experiences is the definition used before and a religious  experiences  is basically the same thing but with in ether the governs confines of a defines a group, or the experience continues to impacts the individual is a way that builds further upon that first  experience , usually...

 When reading Chapter five of " The American Camino", by Kip Redick, found on pages 187-232. I found it very interesting when Dr. Redick listed all of the different examples of how nature and sacred places have a connection. As someone how practices Christianity (specifically I am Catholic :)) and is going into the field of either physical oceanography or conservation, I found it very interesting to see different examples of where faith and nature interact. It make since to me that God would uses nature spaces in order to have an interaction with us since the wilderness and nature have always been connected together since our beginning. One very niche field that doesn't to my knowledge exists, at least on a big scale- is conservation work that is specifical guided toward raise awareness among people of faith. I love the idea of traveling around to different churches and spreading awareness about why Christians should care for the environment (God's creation), very int...