Nature Nerding

How do you relax, recharge, and reconnect? It's Labor Day. It seems like this is the weekend when just about everyone tries to do those things. For most holidays, we invite family into our homes for celebrations, or go to their homes instead. We decorate and plan and cook and it can be crazy stressful. Labor Day is just different for most people.

We often spend Labor Day outside: at a park, in an open space... probably near some water. A few years ago, before Cub was born, we spend Labor Day teaching the girls about directions and compass use in a big park. Last year, I took the kids to an open space near our neighborhood, we packed a lunch, ate under a huge tree, and played in a creek. This year, I went backpacking with a group of other college students.

I'm taking a class called Outdoor Ethics and Leadership. We learned a little about map and compass use, and a lot about leave no trace camping. The class consisted of three girls and three boys with a professor and a student aid. It was amazing.

Probably the most important skill I got to practice and reinforce within myself was patience.

I don't think I could have asked for a better group of peers, but there was one member of our team who was a little less helpful and sometimes even a bit frustrated (and frustrating). The rest of us proved (for ourselves and each other) over an over again that a certain level of maturity and patience was the best way to deal with a bad attitude. After all, we were all there to help each other.

From little things like being physically incapable of getting your water bottle back into its pocket because it's behind you to bigger things like wounding yourself on the trail, we all need help. We help each other pitch tents, set up tarps, cook food, find a place to potty in the dark, get our packs back on, filter our water, wash our hands (someone has to hold the bar of soap for you when you're getting water from a canvas bag hanging from a tree), and understand the ethics of leave no trace camping. We put up with each other's snoring, tossing and turning in the night, lagging behind on the trail, and speeding ahead.

We didn't really know each other before this weekend, but I feel like I know these people better now than I do some of my friends. I actually think I know myself better now. And, as a parent, and a friend, I can see that I have changed, at least temporarily.