Worms, wiggles and giggles: A reflection on outdoor education
By Alex Troutman, Safina Center Launchpad Fellow
There’s always times for worms, wiggles, and giggles. Whether you’re talking about birds, insects, or other joys of nature, it’s always the right time to enjoy a worm and watch it wiggle, and that usually brings about giggles….
Photo: Ashley Jefferson (Play Pan Afrikan)
Experiencing the pure joy of watching kids find earthworms, when I was expecting to talk about amphibians, is a part of what outreach is about. Sure the weather is cold, so all the amphibians are hunkering down. That’s not going to deter the sense of wonder and ENERGY of kids.
They (the kids) don’t care if they find a frog or a worm when they flip over a log. Whatever is under it, is a welcome surprise! Lately, because of the cool and wet weather, we’ve been finding lots of worms. That brings about more wiggles and giggles, but that’s alright. I’m learning just as much if not more than I’m teaching them. One of those lessons is living in the now and being content and grateful for what you have while persevering on the journey.
As we travel from log to rock to a new log, each new object we flip the excitement and amazement reminds the same!
Photo: Ashley Jefferson (Play Pan Afrikan)
“Woah, Look at that!!” And “OMG it’s a worm” are just a few of the beautiful phrases I hear, no matter if it’s the first flip or the tenth, the wonder and awestruck continues, and on the 11th flip when there’s a new discovery everyone loses it!! You share smiles, hear giggles, and see worms wiggling in hands. That 11th flip not only brings about two new creatures for the day, but also upgrades our energy levels and brings fresh information. Everyone wants to share the facts that they know about the new discoveries we have come across. So I gladly lend an ear, and many times a hand, for all of the worms and sticks that were acquired throughout our journey.
That handful of sticks and worms comes with so many sorties and facts that its value cannot be measured.
It’s been said, “A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush.”
I’m here to say that, “A handful of worms and sticks is priceless!”
Photo: Ashley Jefferson (Play Pan Afrikan)
That is what outreach is about, it’s listening as much as you are shearing and lending a hand to hold “treasures.” Hearing the voices of young minds spit out facts, sometimes even reciting your facts is a beautiful and honorable exchange.
Louis Armstrong said, or should I say sang, it best in his piece “What a Wonderful World”:
“I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world.”