Have you taken a moment to read the Ohio History Connection’s Strategic Plan? Today’s Natural History blog post relates to one of those Strategic Priorities: Sustainability.
OHC’s Sustainability Initiative encompasses “all the ways that we support the ongoing impact of the organization, our sites and the communities in which we work.”
First, what is a community? A community is simply a group of living things that share something in common, so the definition and thus the potential impact of this work is very broad and encompassing – especially regarding our work in mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects. In this case, our community refers to not only the people who live around us, but also the ecological community – the cornerstone upon which the people in our society depends.
How do we support our ecological community?
The very first step is simply paying attention to, taking notice of, and cultivating a sense of wonder about nature and the world around us.
I wanted to share this excellent post written by Chrissy McClarren, which exemplifies the process of restoring a sense of wonder, how it feels, and what it means. Although her story takes place in St. Louis, many readers will recognize the names of the wildlife she encounters because we can find them here in Ohio, too!
Restoring a Sense of Wonder by Chrissy McClarren
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus. Photo credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
