While I would never claim to have all of the answers, I am very fond of questions. Especially ones that might have different answers depending on who you ask.

As I started working on my Oregon Naturalist program, one question I started to ponder more was what it means to be a naturalist. Growing up, I think I often had the illusion that words ending in “-ist” often meant someone who did something professionally or was trained, like the paleontologist or vulcanologist I aspired to be during my early years. And for many years, I likewise assumed that a “naturalist” was someone who had gone to college and studied specific topics like geology, hydrology, biology, ecology, and more.

I had always been interested in sciences, but could never quite limit myself to one domain. Deep down, it was a curiosity about the world and a desire to better understand it. In college, I took classes in many different areas of science, but didn’t consider myself a scientist.

“A Student Of Natural History”

But maybe being a naturalist wasn’t so restrictive. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “a student of natural history”. When I started thinking of a naturalist in that way, I realized what many others before me likely already had… I was a naturalist. I loved studying natural history – from the rocks and formation of our planet, to the plants and animals that share it with us, to the ways in which water and air carve and shape it over time. As a classroom teacher, one of my favorite things to do was Outdoor School, where my students got to learn more about topics like these OUTSIDE.

But I had tried really hard to jump on the technology bandwagon, constantly seeking out some new app or tool that students could use. During the early years of the COVID pandemic, this comfort with technology probably saved me some trouble with making the shift to online learning. But as the months wore on, I got bored with being in front of the screen. Instead, I wanted to get outside as often as I could.

And as I did, I started to pay closer attention to the world around me. Suddenly the world was full again of plants, animals, and birds – some of whom I recognized, but many which I did not. So I set out to start learning more about them. I picked a camera back up and rediscovered the practice of nature journaling (and an amazing community to go with it). This inspired me to learn more and to try new things when trying to capture what I was learning.

A Realization

I had the good fortune to stumble upon a local land trust called the Wetlands Conservancy, which allowed members of the community to collect data about beavers and amphibians in local wetlands as citizen scientists. Living close to a wetland, I learned how little I really understood about these ecosystems and the complex webs of life they support. Getting to see a beaver dam up close and even walk across it was an incredible experience (though I definitely recommend a set of waders, a walking stick, and a partner).

Due to several factors, I chose to take a break from the classroom during the 23-24 school year and explore environmental education a bit further. It was during this time that I discovered the Oregon Naturalist (formerly Oregon Master Naturalist) program hosted by Oregon State University. As soon as I learned the dates to sign up for courses, I quickly programmed reminders into my phone, not wanting to miss this opportunity. While completing the online portion of the program, I came to a realization…

I had been a naturalist all along.

This is not to negate the benefits of being able to learn more about the natural history of my state (if any of what I have said thus far resonates with you, I HIGHLY recommend checking to see if your state has a similar program). But I was finally able to see myself as a student of natural history – someone passionate about learning about the world.

Next Steps

I do not yet know where this journey will take me, but maybe that’s the exciting part. Nature is beautiful and often unexpected, too. This new blog represents the first step in my journey to share with others what I am learning, my nature journal experience, and the cool things one can find in the Pacific Northwest of the United States if you just take some time to look around.

Welcome to the NW Naturalist’s Notebook!