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Classic environmental a good choice for summer reading

By Nick Baumgart

Extension Educator

Environmental/Outdoor

Education and

Shooting Sports

Michigan State

University Extension

Summer can be busy and there is certainly a lot to do outdoors. Reading about the outdoors can boost your outdoor enjoyment and learn something too. It is never a bad time to catch up on some reading. Many of us enjoy reading but sometimes finding the right book can be a challenge. Give some thought to reading a book with an environmental theme. There are many classics available and many newer books to peak your interest.

Many of the classics written years ago are still relevant today. Authors such as John Burroughs, Ralph Emerson Waldo, John Muir and Henry David Thoreau wrote classics that were popular and perhaps controversial during their time. Their writings were mostly essays and articles ranging on topics from religion, social issues and nature. Some of the more notable publications from these authors include “Civil Disobedience,” “Walden,” “Nature,” “Wake-Robin” and “Our National Parks.” Many of these author’s works can be found within their own collection of writings within one publication. Their writings serve as a reminder to what was a warning at the time and a reflection of how well we have heeded their words.

Later years saw some influential writers appear. The most notable was Aldo Leopold. Leopold’s book, “A Sand County Almanac” is an environmental literary classic and changed the way land is viewed. It was published after Leopold’s death in 1948. It is mostly written as monthly reflections from his refurbished farm he repossessed from a bootlegger along the Wisconsin River. Leopold coined the term “land ethic” to which he implied that land should be nurtured and cared for rather than viewed as a commodity. Within “A Sand County Almanac” is “With Essays on Conservation from Round River” written about his experience and observations as a young forest service employee in southwest United States. Leopold’s fame grew after his death and he is considered the grandfather of the modern environmental movement.

Sigurd Olson drew national acclaim for his book “The Singing Wilderness” but had been writing articles for many years. This first book is a collection of his most popular writings about the outdoors. His second book, “Listening Point”, was equally popular focusing on the unique natural qualities of the canoe country of northern Minnesota. He went on to write several other books and was instrumental in establishing the Boundary Water Canoe Area. In addition he was a Presidential advisor assisting with the creation of the Wilderness Act.

“Silent Spring,” written by Rachel Carson, exposed the dangers of DDT as a pesticide and its effects on the environment through food chains. “Silent Spring” was extremely popular and spurred a huge movement of public awareness toward nature’s vulnerability to human actions. Along with this came a significant change in pesticide use and regulation in the 1960s. Rachel Carson wrote five books including “A Sense of Wonder” which encourages parents to nurture a child’s inborn sense of wonder about the natural world.

These are just a few of the more prominent environmental authors that have written works that helped shape our current environmental awareness and sensitivity. Numerous other authors have written books that are equally interesting and important such Richard Louv’s book “No child Left in the Woods.” However, these early pioneers in environmental writing have paved a course for others that have created awareness, knowledge and action. Go to your local library or make a purchase and read a book.

Michigan State University Extension encourages participation in new experiences that are safe and expose youth to science involvement with 4-H Science: Asking Questions and Discovering Answers. Science is everywhere with many questions to ask and discoveries to make. Contact Nick Baumgart baumga75@anr.msu.edu for ideas on spending time outdoors with youth or contact your County MSU Extension office for 4-H learning opportunities.

Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program helps to create a community excited about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). 4-H STEM programming seeks to increase science literacy, introducing youth to the experiential learning process that helps them to build problem-solving, critical-thinking and decision-making skills. Youth who participate in 4-H STEM are better equipped with critical life skills necessary for future success. 

To learn more about the positive impact of Michigan 4-H youth in STEM literacy programs read our 2016 Impact Report: “Building Science Literacy and Future STEM Professionals.”

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