Ecology

Never stop learning

Anne Gageby
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve

(4/2024) When I was a kid, I assumed that learning would stop once I finished school. At ten years old, I figured I would know everything I would ever need to know by the time I was done school. I’m not sure why I held this belief, though. Looking back, I don’t recall anyone ever explicitly stating such. It’s funny to think about it because the older I became, the more I discovered that learning never stops. It takes a variety of forms – reading books, watching online tutorials, listening to podcasts, attending lectures, catching up on the latest information in your professional career field, and so on. Learning doesn’t look the same across the board and that’s okay. It doesn’t have to, especially in this era of technology.

For me, education is a thread woven into the fabric of my daily life. I frequent Penn State Extension’s online programs, catch up on industry blogs and podcasts, read books recommended to me by others in my field, and I attend programs at Strawberry Hill for the fun of it. After all, why not? I can always find little golden nuggets of information to go home with and being exposed to a variety of teaching styles helps me be a better teacher. Plus, it’s fun going to classes with old friends and meeting new people.

In March, I attended a class at Strawberry Hill called The Language of the Land: Communicating with the Spaces Around Us. This program was taught by Rev. Monika Coyote, a shamanic healer and educator with a master’s degree in forensic psychology and 20 years of experience working in the health and human services field. The class I attended focused on how people and spaces communicate with each other. It was a fascinating blend of scientific methods and metaphysical discussion.

From this discussion, I discovered that hikers, gardeners, and caretakers of natural spaces can build a relationship with spaces through regular acts of service, offerings, or simply saying hello. I’m not one to walk around talking out loud to trees but this class piqued my interest in acts of service as a communication concept. It made me wonder if picking up trash while I’m out on the trails could help me build a relationship with the space I’m protecting. Am I creating a bond with the land if I pick up a wind-blown granola bar wrapper I found while hiking? Is it possible that the land appreciates when I take a small trash bag with me on outings? Perhaps. Or perhaps it simply gives me a sense of pride and ownership over a small but impactful act. Either way, the end result is something positive.

Litter has a tremendous effect on wildlife and ecosystems. As litter degrades it releases chemicals and microparticles that affect waterways, plants, and animals. Wildlife become trapped in or ingest litter. And most litter takes decades to hundreds of years to decompose. According to Keep America Beautiful, a national non-partisan non-profit dedicated to educating the public about recycling and cleaning green spaces, there are 152 pieces of litter for each U.S. resident. On the bright side, Keep America Beautiful also reports that overall roadside litter is down 54% since 2009. That’s good news for people and animals alike.

Leftover food that is tossed out car windows draws rodents and where there are rodents, there are predators like owls, hawks, and more. One of the greatest threats to these birds of prey is people driving, especially at night. It’s a potentially deadly mix when an animal hunting for food encounters blinding headlights around a sharp turn. Clean roads make for enjoyable drives and provide protection for birds of prey. It’s a win all the way around.

I recently had a conversation about litter with our WILDlife kids. We were out on the trails when we found a gum wrapper followed by an old soda can tab and then later some broken glass. We were discussing what trash does to an area and before I knew it, the kids issued a challenge to me – how many pieces of litter could I hold in both hands as we hiked back to the pond. It was a fun way to engage in dialogue about responsible hiking and they thoroughly enjoyed watching me struggle to hold every small piece they could find. I had a foraging bag with me, but the kids were having a good time watching me balance items large and small in my hands. It was a struggle, for sure.

In the end, though, it was totally worth it. Kids love beating adults at games and a little struggle on my part fed great discussions about respect for nature and respect for others. All the while, Rev. Monika’s lesson kept echoing in my ears. Were the trees watching as we traveled down the long-worn paths? Did the mountain understand that our game helps cultivate social responsibility and collective love of nature? Perhaps.

I think a better question to ask is: do our small actions make a measurable impact? I believe they do. Children learn by example, and they value that which is valued. It could be the trees, the watershed, a local hiking spot, or just spending time in nature with friends. Either way, the lessons learned will carry on.

Looking ahead at our spring schedule, I’m hoping to attend more of our classes and programs if only to engage that part of myself that loves learning. I made myself a promise years ago to never grow still, never become stagnant. Education – especially environmental education – is a living, breathing thing, no puns intended. I’m always looking for new ways to connect to the natural world and bring knowledge back to my programs. I believe the programs I teach reflect what I value. So, if you sign up for some upcoming programs, don’t be surprised to see me sitting there with you. After all, you never stop learning. Who knows, maybe you’ll teach me something this spring!

Anne Gageby is the Environmental Education Manager of the Strawberry Hill Foundation. Strawberry Hill inspires stewardship of our natural world by
connecting the community with educational opportunities.
 Learn more by visiting StrawberryHill.org.