I am going to take a bit of a different path in this article. On March 4th you will have an opportunity to keep in operation a jewel in the crown of Northwest Ohio. I had an opportunity to be involved with the evolution of this treasure from 1982 to 1994. My children helped me at the Park District and two of my sons, Damian and Justin, worked there when in college. They mowed and helped to build a barn at Litzenburg Farm. They were part of the Park District's Career Explorer Post that went on a western trip planned and executed by them and other members. The same explorers collected the seeds for The Oakwood's Prairie. Five members of the post have gone into careers involving the outdoors and nature. Two young men read my articles on line. They live and work in other states and e-mailed me to tell me what they were doing. My daughter Anna helped with my introduction of music at Riverbend Park singing "There Is a Hole in The Bucket" as I picked my banjo. My son James dressed in Native regalia with me when I created Jean Jac Blanchard programs. They grew up in the outdoors thanks to The Hancock Park District. Also, many a mother bush-whacked with me on tiny hikes at The Litzenburg site before it was a farm park. One day at Van Buren State Park I spoke with a mother who remembered those tiny hikes.
Just as my own boys have, the boy that was with her then has grown to a man.
He still talks about the hikes with Mr. B and his mom. Never underestimate the benefits of what may seem to you to be of little significance. His mother stated the stamina of hiking and love of the outdoors was beneficial to him during his tour in Iraq. Life skills are more valuable than anything made by humans.
Richard Louv, the author of "The Last Child in The Woods", is very concerned about the lack of present day contact between children and nature. He directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today's wired generation (which he calls nature deficit) to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as a rises in obesity, attention deficit disorder, and depression. Louv asked a series of questions to third graders, and when one boy was asked would he rather play outside or inside; his response was inside. The boy explained, "That is where all of the outlets are." Thank you mom, Edith Bowerman, for the very direct, smiling command to me as a child: "Go outside and blow off some stink." We all need to play in the out of doors, more now than ever.
Challenging you to keep your parks in excellent condition brings to mind another famous person.
The father of modern conservation, Aldo Leopold, saw many of the things happening to the American people and the land in the late 1940s that caused him concern. "The outstanding scientific discovery of the twentieth century is not television, or radio, but rather the complexity of the land organism. Only those who know the most about it can appreciate how little is known about it.
The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?' If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not. If the biota, in the course of eons, has built something we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."
People before me like my grandfathers, father, mother, uncles, scout leaders, teachers and Leoplod, gave me direction to do my own conservation effort when I started The Black Swamp Raptor Rehab Center at The Hancock Park District. Take heed, there is a yet to be born park naturalist that will work at The Park District someday. He or she will pass on the torch of land ethics to another generation.
The Native Americans, the settlers, and the current park workers and administrators were and are all guests on the parklands. Let's make sure supporting it on March 4th passes it on to another generation.
If you want some good wrap me up in a blanket by the fire reading, I suggest you read Richard Louv's book, "Last Child In The Woods" or Aldo Leopold's, "A Sand County Almanac."
No one has yet answered the local hibernator question. Very soon the animal will be out of hibernation! Please keep trying. E-mail your answers to bowerman4@verizon.net
In keeping with the above testimonial, I am pleased to designate the Hancock Park District as the March 2008 recipient of The Non Consumptive Wildlife Conservation Award. They and their volunteers do many great things for Non Consumptive Wildlife. This is accomplished through habitat improvement and educational programs.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Nature is as Nature Does - Mr. B
