Whenever I move to a new place, one of my favorite things to do is get my hands on a good field guide. Learning the names and natural histories of the plants and animals in my neighborhood helps me feel a sense of place and connection, which can often be difficult when adjusting to a new environment. It’s also an outdoor activity I can do at my own pace. Sometimes hiking, particularly when with people who don’t experience mobility disabilities, can feel like a race, where the emphasis is on reaching a destination rather than slowing down to take in all of the interesting scenery, plant life, geology, etc. As a disabled person, not being able to “keep up” in these situations can feel alienating, and can contribute to the feeling that the way I experience and move through nature is not “enough.”
This, of course, isn’t true at all. Moving through nature with slowness also often means moving with heightened intentionality and awareness. Taking frequent rest breaks mean I can focus less on moving my body through space and more on what is around me. Those pauses are often the times I feel most connected to nature. When I’m sitting quietly on the side of the trail, I notice and come to know what’s around me in a way that feels very gentle and unobtrusive. In that moment, that way of being in nature is not only “enough,” but also actively contributes to my understanding of the world around me.
As an environmental educator, I think often about what norms and goals around being outside we are imparting our students. Even though these aren’t always explicit, students are often encouraged to push past feelings of physical discomfort in service of achieving a goal – like finishing a hike, making it to the top of a trail, or arriving at a particular destination. This isn’t to say that planning for a reaching a destination of special interest isn’t a worthy activity – but rather to question why other goals of being in nature aren’t equally embraced.
For some people, nature connection lies at. the end of trail, but for others, it takes places sitting in a field, fingers laced with the grass beneath, making slow and quiet observations of the birds that fly by and the insects they see while still. In these times, seemingly “average” or “unremarkable” spots out in nature can inspire awe and connection, and be seen as worthy of protection and care. If the only places we deem remarkable enough to serve as a goal for our outings are mountaintops, then we imply that the path up the mountain is less important, less awe-inspiring, less worthy or capable of connecting to.
Environmental education desperately needs more disabled leaders and voices to shape the norms, goals, and values of what is determined valuable and educational time in nature. And in order for that to happen, environmental education organizations and institutions need to actively support educators and students whose ways of being in nature fall outside of the typical norms of the field. Until that is done, the field is limiting itself to a very narrow range of perspectives of what it means to be human and to connect to nature.
Tips for Planning Outdoor Activities that Center Slowness and Stillness
- Bring light, foldable chairs or collapsable stools that can serve as a place to sit. Small blankets or other ground coverings can also work if you want to avoid sitting directly on the ground.
- Take along binoculars, sketchbooks, notebooks, etc – supplies that will help direct focus towards stopping, noticing, and recording what you see!
- Nothing says “let’s take a break” like pulling out snacks! Pack water and snacks (plus any other goods) that may help you feel comfortable when sitting outside for longer periods of time.
- Choose a place that will not create a sense of urgency to get to the end. Allow yourself to be in a space where you feel free to take your time and observe all that you want. For some, that may be a park or outdoor spot where the main activity is to pick a nice place to sit; for others, that might be picking a walk that they know they won’t feel rushed. Not every outing has to be a hike!
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By Disabled in Nature
