Research Park Observations

Research Park in College Station provided some rather intriguing natural elements. From creek beds to catfish, it holds a certain entanglement of itself through its many components.

Though it was quite hot outside, the trees gave a nice cool shade. A pond sat in the middle of the park, drawing most of the students' attention for the morning. Here, a handful of turtles and a family of ducks could be found rummaging among our shadows on the water, hoping for a snack.

Something that I noticed almost immediately was our interaction with the wildlife. While feeding ducks and pond turtles is commonly done and seen by people, we individually tend to not connect with free-roaming animals daily or even monthly. We were strangers to their home yet they seemed next to unshaken.

Animals aside, I wound up finding the most tranquil spots. The coolness of big rocks and the trickling of a small stream made a particular spot irresistible. Sometimes we find relaxation with a cup of tea and a few chapters of our favorite book on the couch, but this spot in the park provided the exact same outcome, only better: you can dip your toes in this one.

As the morning went on, I noticed a sort of "island" that had a wooden swing tied around a tree branch that a student was sitting on. As I stared for a few moments, I couldn't help but think about how much more common it was for people to interact with nature in past centuries: swinging away on tree swings was once a daily activity children took advantage of, finding the time to stare at one's refection in the river made women smile, and outdoor windy picnics were a weekend priority.

Unfortunately, we have grown too busy for nature. We have grown too busy to appreciate what contributes to our very lives. Our lack of acknowledgement towards our natural environment has grown, and the most we find ourselves enjoying a landscape is behind a phone camera. It is assignments such as these Nature Writings that take us out of our norm and into the norm.