Words from the wise...

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John Muir used to say "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

Speaking from personal experience, this statement couldn't be more true.  When I'm at home I tend to be timid and shy, but out on trails, and in parks, I'll talk to anyone and everyone who's willing to listen!  Something about being in a beautiful place enriches the spirit and fills you with the same happiness and confidence that is being poured into the stranger walking beside you.  The empowering atmosphere that tall trees and beautiful landscapes provide have the power to connect the most distant of strangers.

I have had students come up to me after nature trips bewildered at how they had been classmates with their peers all year, but didn't become friends with them until that moment.  It's amazing how being in a natural setting connects you to your peers on a whole new level.  Being able to experience beautiful places with others builds life long friendships.

I had to opportunity to go on a trip called the Field Research Course as a high school student which was a two week backpacking program open to students from all over the world.  I'll talk more about this course and how beneficial it is in another post, but to get back on topic, I spent two weeks in the woods with absolute strangers, but came out with life-long friends.  Every student in the group came from a different racial or religious background, but coming together to learn in nature connected us all.  Where we were from and our past didn't matter, we were all present to learn and grow together.

Most people don't have the strength to cope with life's challenges alone, we need friends or family to confide in.  Sometimes as a kid, it's really hard to make friends or learn how to express yourself.  Sending kids to nature programs is an amazing way from them to break out of their shell and form new friendships.  So to loop this post back to the beginning, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."