California Wilderness: Meditations on Nature

Greetings from Domeland!

The second leg of this tribe's trip has placed us in the southern Sierras, in an old living space of the indigenous people of the area--our base camp sports some grinding holes left in slabs of granite, and even some paintings!

This valley surrounding the Kern River gets its name from the gigantic chunks of granite exposed by the glacier that carved its way through the mountains here, millennia ago. What's more, the landscape experienced an extensive fire a couple decades ago, which left fields of dead trees, fallen and still standing, in its wake. Along with the colored willows flanking the river down its winding path, it all is a sight to see, to say the least.

It's a fit place to study nature philosophy, our main focus on this leg, which has paralleled a study of the Old People of the hunter-gatherer era. Their love for the natural world has slowly unfolded itself into my own perceptions; it's starting to feel less like a trip and more like an experience. The nature is encapsulating my days, rather than just being an aspect of them. Mornings consist of practicing my 60-day ritual (a course requirement) of meditation and/or Chi Gong, journal entries, and trying to squeeze out a nature-based poem--all while listening to the trickle of the river and feeling the rising sun warm my back after a cold, brisk night.

Tea has become ritual; it's nice watching the tribe members go about their morning businesses while waiting for the water to boil, an event which usually calls people to the "living room" of the base camp. Soon after breakfast, morning class is held, in which the assigned readings are discussed after a quick Yoga session. At around noon, the day is ours until the evening.

We're free to explore the area, hang out in camp, take a nap, bask in the sun, stare at a tree--basically whatever floats our boat, provided we read the material of the day in time for evening class, which is held after dinner, cooked by the two chefs-of-the-day. Despite only knowing the tribe for less than a month, I can safely say that I feel part of a close-knit family. That's hard enough in the front country, and yet it all seems beautifully simple out here, together and compassionate.

Time with ourselves has been beautiful. I feel refreshed as a whole; our 60-day practices are designed so that we may develop a self-enriching ritual, finally, now that we're out of the stresses and demands of modern society. My focus on poetry and meditative practice is a result of my desperate need to release erroneous tension, and boy is it working! Little did I expect that every day is a meditation of its own. The readings--among them Muir, Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman--are unbelievably relevant and relatable to my experience out here, as well as my life as a whole.

After all, one of our goals here is to experience what the aboriginal people did, being immersed in nature with a small community to depend on and love. It's slowly all making sense. If you'll excuse me, I think I feel like taking a dip in the river. 

-Buckminster Barrett

California Wilderness: Coyotes and Snow

This morning I woke up to the sound of coyotes howling. As someone who usually wakes at noon or later, the coyotes and the morning sun are such welcome alarms. I make my breakfast by the fire, preparing for today's hike adventure. We pass the coyotes' tracks, as well as those of rabbits and a mountain lion. Eyes out for rattlesnakes, too. It snowed last night. It was beautiful, fallen old trees layered in snow in the morning light. 

As we hike further, we climb higher. The air is clean and sharp, and I collect some snow in my hands. I keep collecting and eating the snow all day, barely needing my water. At the peak of the granite slab, I can see why this place is called Domeland. Indomitable, beautiful mountain rock faces surround us. I call back down to the others, and my voice echoes all around.

This place probably sees less than one hundred pairs of human feet per year, it feels so untouched. I know where camp is, and I take off down first one wash, then the next. Bouldering is my favorite, and I can choose whichever path I like. I finally reach the river, and leisurely make my way home, crossing fallen logs and the sturdier beaver dams on a whim.

This was part of a single day only, and there's still over a month left. I could stay like this indefinitely.

Sierra Institute has been many things for me. I've made such good friends, even in this short time. I've been building better habits and teaching myself guitar, a bit every day. We've found arrowheads, built structures of our own, slept under the stars; I cannot summarize. I signed up knowing this would be a unique experience, and it has been, it is; but in so many great ways I could not have predicted.

-Sam Clevenger

Patagonia: an inside perspective

Kaleb Goff, a participant in the Winter 2014 program Natural History of the Patagonian Cordillera: Argentina and Chile, shares his enthusiasm for nature and experiential learning in this wonderful essay. Why not let nature be YOUR classroom?

In modern Western society, education is dominated by a paradigm that works to be as efficient as possible - imparting knowledge to students through a stream of facts and information. This form of education is particularly extreme at many universities, and millions of students pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for this institutionalized approach to education, aiming to absorb required facts and hopefully apply this information to a set of skills which are determined depending upon an intended career path. Around this dominating and ironic modern educational system lies a plethora of other techniques - from the autodidactical to the heavily institutionalized. Education forms also exist in a wide variety of settings, from the dark and musty concrete lecture hall of 500 students to the vast and windswept Patagonian Steppe. So called “outdoor education” is a broad educational dogma that removes the student from the classroom setting and aims to divert the constant stream of spoon-fed information, ideally creating an educational paradigm that is dynamic and question-driven, promotes the hands-on development of practical skills, and harnesses the evolutionary and evident need for the connection between humans and the more-than-human world. Outdoor education in our modern civilization fundamentally seeks balance - to balance the efficiency of institutionalized education with the advantages of outdoor education is an immense challenge and a worthy pursuit.
 
This course, Sierra Institute Patagonia 2014, is its own unique form of outdoor education, nuanced with its own personal challenges and triumphs. From my perspective, this course focuses particularly on combining the personal and academic aspects of being a student, which is particularly applicable due to the nature of studying natural history - it is truly happening at every moment. Also, this course has a particular focus on teaching students how to learn, which truly means breaking down the habit of instant information and promoting self-driven, question-based learning that each student has a personal relationship with and responsibility towards. The course dives headlong into the challenges of combining an intimate group dynamic with a rigorous academic schedule and the challenges that the natural world can bring to conducting classes.
 

My personal experience in this course has been profound, challenging and wondrous. I began this course with some background knowledge, as a 3rd year Plant Science student. I had completed basic courses and begun some of the more advanced topics in the university setting, as well as personally learning and exploring the skills of a naturalist. Reflecting on it now, I knew very little of what was taught during this course, and the academic content of the course was a perfect extension of my background knowledge. Much of what this course explored academically is not immediately taught in the university, some not taught at all (for example botany is a class generally taken late in college, and there is no class at UCSC I know of that details the entire Kingdom Plantae and its varied and beautiful life cycles). All this said, I learned a tremendous amount academically, and more specifically I learned a tremendous amount about things I love and care about immensely. This experience has been one that will continue to nourish me academically in the future.

I have gained more than ever could be formed into words and paragraphs. I gained a wider view of our home, the Earth. I gained academic knowledge that I will use to look more closely and make tighter connections in my love and exploration of this world. I learned how to travel, live and learn with a group of 10 other people, and how to relate on all of these levels simultaneously. I also gained a more open perspective of myself as an outdoor educator and facilitator, which I hope to explore more deeply in the years to come.

In conclusion - I am overwhelmed by the immensity of this experience. It is one that will continue to nourish me for the rest of my life, in my pursuit of being the deepest lover and student of the Earth that I can possibly be. Moreover, my inspiration to facilitate others in their observation and learning about our home has greatly grown, and I will not cease to share what I have learned on this trip with all I meet. My wholehearted and ardent gratitude for all that has been given to me on this trip. May it continue to shine.

California Wilderness: A new beginning in Death Valley

The Spring California Wilderness group has just finished the first segment of their journey: Death Valley. In this passage, John O'Mara shares his experience of wild horses, turquoise mines and how time in the wilderness has already impacted him profoundly.

On April 4th a group of complete strangers embarked into the Death Valley wilderness.  We arrived at Cottonwood Springs in the afternoon and immediately we were awestruck by rolling plains, jagged mountain ranges and warm soft sand between our toes.  The spring boasted of watercress, which became a staple in our nightly cooking.  In our time here at Cottonwood springs we explored the local history, and found traces of past life-- run down shacks, burned treasure chests, arrowheads, beads and remains of big horn sheep.  On one of my very first mornings of watching the sunrise, sitting in the big field overlooking the entire canyon I was approached by a wild horse. He was just as timid and nervous as I was, but over the time of our stay here at the springs this horse became a part of our group.  One morning, he even  came into our camp and made himself comfortable.  Through this experience I became so enthralled by the beauty of these majestic animals.  A few days later a herd of wild horses came and visited us, an experience that I will never forget.

In our days here we explored the surrounding areas, to an old turquoise mine and a mud flat overlook of the entire park.  A birds-eye view of a birds-eye view.  The experiential knowledge of the wilderness that I have gained in participating in the program has blown away any expectations that I had.  The sense of community that we have built amongst us is an extremely comfortable, tight knit and compassionate feeling.  I wake up every morning to the glow of dusk and go to bed every night in awe of the stars.                                                                                                                       

Academically our studies are an integral part of why this experience in nature is so special.  The curriculum is paired with each location; the wheels of knowledge are turning as our legs are churning out mountains and through meadows.  With each other we have a constant conversation of our academics foreshadowing the beauty of the state of California.  Almost daily I am struck with a moment of wonder in reading, discussing and critiquing the readings.  Personally this material has helped me reflect on my life thus far and what in life is important to me.  The time alone that we have the opportunity for has opened me up to see the value in what I am doing for my personal fulfillment as well as my contribution to a community.  Campfire dinners are boasting with flavor and the music that we collectively make with rattles and cans runs a euphoria through my body, as if I become part of the inspiring land with every meal and every song.  

The people that are in this program with me make the experience what it is.  Despite our age differences, interests, areas of study, we come together to create a transformational experience.  The opportunity to participate in Sierra institute is something I plan on sharing for the remainder of my life, the integration of nature and learning is like nothing I have ever or will ever again experience.  I plan on shifting my style of learning for the remainder of my college career, as this program is creating change within me that has and will positively affect me for the rest of my life.

 

Natural History of the Patagonia Cordillera: Argentina and Chile

Our group of Patagonian explorers are about to embark on their final backpack trip, a 15-day excursion from Cochamó, Chile.

They will trek from a coastal fjord to the continental divide, through mature Valdivian rainforest and forests of higher elevation Fitzroya cupressoides (“alerce”—similar to giant redwoods). During this leg of the journey, the students will be resupplied by packhorses!

Are you interested in learning more about this amazing program? Visit the Sierra Institute website to read on!

Natural History of the Patagonia Cordillera: Argentina and Chile

Since the beginning of January, a group of Sierra Institute students and their instructor, Brett Lovelace, have been exploring the mountains, valleys, and plateau of the Eastern Andean Cordillera in Argentina. 

Fresh off a 22-day backpacking trip, they will cross the border into Chile and soon begin another 8-day backpacking trip to El Cañi Reserve, a mature Araucaria araucana (“monkey puzzle tree”) forest, with a possible ascent of nearby Volcan Villarica to see an active volcano!

The group is currently staying in a village called Junín de los Andes in the province of Neuquén, Argentina, a place famous for its birdwatching and trout-fishing.

Are you interested in learning more about the amazing program? Check in soon to follow our group through their next adventure in the Chilean rainforest, and visit the Sierra Institute website to read more!

Let nature be the classroom.