The Road Not Taken: Reflections Upon a Visit to River Legacy
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Robert Frost's words from his 1915 poem, " The Road Not Taken" I went to River Legacy yesterday with so much anticipation for what the day would offer. Fourteen women from UTA's Bluebonnet Writing Project and two instructors gathered in the River Legacy Science Center, armored up with mosquito repellent, water bottles, sun screen and eager attitudes. I was concerned as one of our students sent me this e-mail which resonated with fear she could not keep concealed:
And both that morning equally layI was browsing the River Legacy website on tonight, and a huge rattle snake showed up as a picture in their nature path. I'm unsure if you caught the conversation I had with Sherry and Jolyn on today in the "DMZ," but snakes terrify me on an entirely different level than they do with others. The thought, mention, or sight of (oh my!) a snake will send me into embarrassing hysterics and shock. I am speaking from true experience.
I quickly wrote her back, assuring her that I understood and asking her if she'd consider joining us for the inside portion of the day. When I arrived at River Legacy, I saw that Rediesha was there, girded with prayer and a brave attitude to face this ongoing terror. Lourdes was there, eager to try the project's digital cam as she planned to record the nature experience and the rest of our group Christine, Christina, Kia, Ginny, Sherry, Dianna, Pat, Leslie, Rachel, Heather, Joylyn and Rachel were equipped with cell phones and cameras all set to capture pictures and sounds of the day's experience. Our advisor, Dr. Pete Smith, made gracious introductions and Scott Massey, aka Captain Computer, stood by ready as ever with helpful technical advice. We eagerly turned our attention to Phyllis and Suzie as they explained to us the mission of River Legacy, the educational programs and future projects.
Phyllis, the calm, yet passionate director of the River Legacy Science Center explained that River Legacy Parks is the product of a public/private partnership between River Legacy Foundation and the city of Arlington. It was founded in 1988, and its mission is to preserve and enhance land along the Trinity River and its tributaries as an extraordinary
recreational, educational and natural resource (River Legacy Website, 2007). Their goal for the citizens of the Arlington area to know, learn from and love the river experience is manifested in its many educational and recreational programs. Horticulturist Luther Burkank expresses in his 1906 poem the belief that " "Every child should have mud pies,grasshoppers, waterbugs, tadpoles,frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb, brooks to wade in,water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hay-fields,pinecones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education."
And River Legacy offers just those opportunities with summer camps for children pre-k through 12, school year programs and special events such as After Dark in the Park, Cardboard Regatta, Petpalooza, and Caddy Shack Scramble. Educators are afforded professional development opportunites and individuals and families are invited in for a variety of learning opporortunities as well. In a world filled with commercialism, noise, and constant entertainment opportunities, the River Legacy Foundation as chosen another path--one that resonates of our past and promises a future, not possible without the re-emergence of the nature that sustained our past:
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
Our day at River Legacy was marked with squeals of excitement as grown women touched their feet to the sandy clay earth as they walked gingerly down a river bank clinging to the roots and each other for support. Cameras noiselessly clicked magnificent shots of water, redolent in its stillness, with dragon flies flickering through the air, butterflies making brief landings on flower and greenery, spiders spun gossamer webs just barely visible in the early morning sunlight. Rediesha, bravely smiled as she clicked and silently prayed as she worked to over come her fear of potentially seeing one of God's ceatures--the snake. We laughed and shared our past experiences in nature--forging deeper friendships as we shed our school personnas and peeling back layers of the past to reveal the precious memories of us as children in natural surroundings. We thought about the paths we had chosen and wondered why we had not kept our connection with nature--
I quickly wrote her back, assuring her that I understood and asking her if she'd consider joining us for the inside portion of the day. When I arrived at River Legacy, I saw that Rediesha was there, girded with prayer and a brave attitude to face this ongoing terror. Lourdes was there, eager to try the project's digital cam as she planned to record the nature experience and the rest of our group Christine, Christina, Kia, Ginny, Sherry, Dianna, Pat, Leslie, Rachel, Heather, Joylyn and Rachel were equipped with cell phones and cameras all set to capture pictures and sounds of the day's experience. Our advisor, Dr. Pete Smith, made gracious introductions and Scott Massey, aka Captain Computer, stood by ready as ever with helpful technical advice. We eagerly turned our attention to Phyllis and Suzie as they explained to us the mission of River Legacy, the educational programs and future projects.
Phyllis, the calm, yet passionate director of the River Legacy Science Center explained that River Legacy Parks is the product of a public/private partnership between River Legacy Foundation and the city of Arlington. It was founded in 1988, and its mission is to preserve and enhance land along the Trinity River and its tributaries as an extraordinary
recreational, educational and natural resource (River Legacy Website, 2007). Their goal for the citizens of the Arlington area to know, learn from and love the river experience is manifested in its many educational and recreational programs. Horticulturist Luther Burkank expresses in his 1906 poem the belief that " "Every child should have mud pies,grasshoppers, waterbugs, tadpoles,frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb, brooks to wade in,water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hay-fields,pinecones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education."
And River Legacy offers just those opportunities with summer camps for children pre-k through 12, school year programs and special events such as After Dark in the Park, Cardboard Regatta, Petpalooza, and Caddy Shack Scramble. Educators are afforded professional development opportunites and individuals and families are invited in for a variety of learning opporortunities as well. In a world filled with commercialism, noise, and constant entertainment opportunities, the River Legacy Foundation as chosen another path--one that resonates of our past and promises a future, not possible without the re-emergence of the nature that sustained our past:
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
Our day at River Legacy was marked with squeals of excitement as grown women touched their feet to the sandy clay earth as they walked gingerly down a river bank clinging to the roots and each other for support. Cameras noiselessly clicked magnificent shots of water, redolent in its stillness, with dragon flies flickering through the air, butterflies making brief landings on flower and greenery, spiders spun gossamer webs just barely visible in the early morning sunlight. Rediesha, bravely smiled as she clicked and silently prayed as she worked to over come her fear of potentially seeing one of God's ceatures--the snake. We laughed and shared our past experiences in nature--forging deeper friendships as we shed our school personnas and peeling back layers of the past to reveal the precious memories of us as children in natural surroundings. We thought about the paths we had chosen and wondered why we had not kept our connection with nature--
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Today we sit in class and listen as each of us shares our written reflections of this beautiful day at River Legacy. Rediiesha, fear put to rest, shares her joy in an exquisite gospel rendition of the second verse of "How Great Thou Art":
We, like the leadership and staff at River Legacy, want to treasure the gifts of nature, honor ourselves as part of nature, and thank of Maker for the gift of nature. In so doing, we like Robert Frost, take a differnt path and reflect:
I shall be telling this with a sighWhen through the woods, and forest glades I wander,And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art.Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
We, like the leadership and staff at River Legacy, want to treasure the gifts of nature, honor ourselves as part of nature, and thank of Maker for the gift of nature. In so doing, we like Robert Frost, take a differnt path and reflect:
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
4 comments:
Jeannine,
It take a person with a great heart to put wisdom into words--you've done that; thank you.
Lourdes
This is beautiful! I love how you integrated Frost's poem into your experience. A true writing master!
I love reading your writing! You blend the classical with such an inspring story-telling style, that I feel like I am there! Interesting that you do that in real-life, too -- blend the theory with the real-world/classroom application. That is one of your strong points, and we all benefit from you. Thank you for sharing your insights!
Absolutely beautiful. I had a great time with you all.
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