Hands on the Land

As our Alaskan study continued across the Alaskan Highway to Fairbanks then southwards, I visited further interesting places, saw unbelievable scenery and was privileged to speak to many very informed and forward thinking people contributing in a many of capacities to a variety of environmental programs. I spoke with National Parks personnel, volunteers and members of the public, young and old. In every meeting, I was so impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm each brought to their roles in maintaining and providing education about these beautiful wild places. In speaking to the general public, I, an Aussie, quickly understood the immense pride Americans have of their unique and wonderful natural environment. Often a chance meeting on a Glacier revealed glimpses of the past, when we met a sprightly older couple at Kenai National Park, Bob and Kay Folly, they were retracing their steps of twenty five years ago when Kay was part of the trail maker team who put in the trails up Exit Glacier. Still fit and immensely proud of their contribution made so long ago, last seen they were leaping up the steep trail, as fit as the mountain goats high above. What a lesson in pride and commitment for a pair of Aussies who continued on their way carefully, immensely respectful of the great height perspective a glacier gives.

At Denali, Chugach and Kenai National Parks the programs for both young and old visitors to the parks were excellent. Each park made every effort to reach visitors of every age group to teach them about the precious gift of nature each contains. At Chugach I was priveleged to speak with Nicholas Racine, the Deputy Administrator and Sarah Boario the Education Officer for the Chugach Children's Forest. Here, I had my first insight of the USA Children's Forest Movement which brings school children to their forests for a hands-on experience in caring for the land. From Nick I heard for the first time about environmental stewardship. This is a new term for Australians to hear. How well it describes the role each of us must play to protect these last frontiers of natural beauty. From Nick too I learned about the demographics of park visitors, how economics plays a part in determining who has the financial resources and leisure time available to be able to visit these remote places.

This posed a new question for my research; if the longevity of these unique, wild places requires the understanding and stewardship of all people, how then can we make this experience affordable for all? Does the answer lie in reaching out to our very young members of society by providing a very different style of education that is committed to bring them outdoors to the natural world? How do we subsidize this experience to make it affordable for all. This question too is one affecting all environmental programs. In our own Baldivis Children's Forest, subsidies to make our forest programs more affordable are given in the form of sponsorship by our major sponsor BHP Billeton Nickel, a multi-national mining company currently operating in Western Australia. Is this a role that corporations can make to invest in the future of our natural environment by investing in our youth?

This question now has created further aspect to my study as I traveled on to Homer and beyond.

Judy Hill (an Aussie observer)