Last year when the pandemic shut down schools, businesses, and travel, I was working at an outdoor school in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Our campus closed and went silent except for birds, squirrels, and deer that shared our backyard.  Our assistant principal encouraged us to find a spot on campus to visit daily and observe how the area transforms over the course of a month. As a person who is constantly moving from one thing to the next, I...

One of my favorite ways to explore a backyard, neighborhood, or nearby park is to focus on only one of my senses to observe what Spring brings. This week when I wake up, there is a new songbird by my front door, her song has been silent for the winter and just as the grass glistens green, the birdsong returns. I sat today in the sun, on a warm cement block. I heard a dog barking off to my right, I felt surrounded by the chorus of frogs, cars...

This week I had the opportunity to teach a Caring for Our Earth lesson with 6th grade students from Peres Elementary in Richmond, California. As a class, we explored our unique reasons why we care for the Earth. Students replied in various ways:  “It’s my home” “When I hear the wind and sit outdoors, I feel relaxed” “I like swimming” “It gives us oxygen” “My grandmother’s large flower garden” To begin, we listened to the poem “Earthrise” by...

The spring equinox is this Saturday, March 20th. Warming days and more daylight tells us spring is near. Celebrating its arrival by heading outdoors to a local park, your backyard or any magical space in nature where spring is bringing everything to beautiful life. My favorite part about spring is the world in vivid color as wildflowers burst from dreary winter landscapes. In California, each March, I feel excitement to find the first poppies,...

I am frustrated but I’m breathing Third day waking up to the dark Power yet to be restored Generators all around, hum and rumble loudly Almost everyone seems to have a generator now – is this the new norm? Is this how we adapt to survive the effects of climate change? After 84 mph winds rushed through our hills Tearing down shingles Flipping over trampolines And uprooting ancient trees Off goes the light – another public safety power shut-off –...