Personal Responses to Outdoor

Environments

Outdoor & Environmental Studies

Exploring Outdoor Experiences

Martin Eriksson

Some Responses to Nature

Fear.Contemplation.Appreciation/Awe.Inspiration.

Fear Many of our responses to nature are

responses of fear. Looking at story books many pictures

give the impression nature should be feared.

Nature as wilderness, something wild and untamed.

Think of a personal experience where you have been afraid of nature.

What is your initial response to these?

Picture Facts

The spider in the picture is a Wolf Spider. It is considered harmless to us.

The snake is a white lipped snake and although it has venom the venom is considered not dangerous to humans.

Discussion Do we fear nature because we don’t

understand it? Do we fear nature because we have

learnt this through our culture? When we usually think of nature it is big

and vast. Does this make us feel small, insignificant and perhaps vulnerable?

Copy down these questions and respond to them with some examples.

Contemplation

Quiet. Peaceful. Slower pace. Allows us to relax,

think and ponder life. Time out from hustle

and bustle to reflect.

Discussion Often nature is a good place to

contemplate. Is this just because it is quiet and

relaxing? Is it because we are away from family,

friends, school, and work and can think about life away from or without them.

Is it contemplation about us and nature? Copy down and respond to the above in

writing.

Appreciation/Awe Looks beautiful. Breath of fresh air

makes us feel good. Sounds of birds, wind in

trees, trickle of creek. Smell of salt air, rain,

shrubs. Good weather. Respect combined with

fear or wonder. Something different.

Discussion

Think of a place of nature that you appreciate.

Does your appreciation mean you respect it?

What is it about this place that you appreciate?

How does it make you feel and why? Write questions and your responses.

Compare the pictures. Which do you appreciate more? Cute and cuddlies!

Inspiration Many people are

inspired to express thoughts and feelings about nature. Some examples of this are:

Write poetry Paint landscapes Sketch flowers or birds Write stories, describing

places of nature

The Man From Snowy River

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise

Their torn and rugged battlements on high,

Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze