Parking my car and heading down a familiar trail, I started to take deeper breaths than I had all day. Something about being surrounded by verdant woodland makes it easier to slow down. Wood chips laid over the dirt (mud) paths are a new addition since the last time I was there, and they made the traverse down to the creek bed less treacherous. A clearing with benches scattered about was the perfect place to pause, and I soaked up the sunshine and sounds surrounding me. The steady flow of the stream, twittering bird calls, and the occasional rustle of leaves disturbed by a sudden breeze all swirled together in the air, but I could still pick out each individual noise’s source.
You may be thinking, “how far did you have to go to find such a sanctuary?” The answer is, not far at all. This verdant woodland is hidden in plain sight: Maryville College’s backyard.
The Maryville College woods are often overlooked by students and community members alike. Maybe their proximity makes them feel too easy, like a cheat code to outdoors-iness. That's the best kind of nature area: accessible, familiar, and easy.
Taking in the peacefulness of the field, I noticed a spiderweb glittering as it caught sunlight. Like a clothesline strung between rooftops, the silk stretched from one bench to the next; man made structures inextricably tied to nature. A trashcan nestled in some bushes seemed to be getting put to good use, as the area was mostly free of garbage– except for a single stray nerf bullet trapped on the bank of the creek, surrounded by sticks and twigs.
When we seek to preserve wilderness areas so close to areas of human activity it can feel like the lines between what is “natural” and not become blurred. Something I have noticed that marks the shift in location for me is an abrupt feeling of calmness when I enter nature. There is no rush when you are outside. Something flew past me, flitting through my peripheral vision, but for some reason it didn’t startle me. Nature has a way of moving in slow motion.
Maryville College students are in a unique position because for many, this is probably the closest and easiest access they have had to wildlife like the MC woods and the National Park. So, fellow students, let’s take advantage of this opportunity! Switch up your study spot and try finding a nook in the groves of the woods or the picnic tables shaded by trees instead of the library or your dorm room for a change. You might be surprised to find how much inspiration and focus nature can provide.
We all need a chance to slow down every now and then, but we don’t always have time. That’s why the convenience of places like the Maryville College woods is so important; we all need the freedom to roam. Maintaining heavily frequented nature areas is no joke, though. MC faculty and staff pour effort into the well-being of the woods, with professors Unger and Crain leasing charges to remove invasive species, provide trash receptacles, and maintain trails. We all, as members of the campus community, need to do our part to keep the MC woods healthy and to return the favor of healing that they have offered to so many of us.
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