Dennis Nord's Page

Soar like an eagle! Well, I recently learned we have about 10% of the energy it takes to really fly like a bird. That shouldn't keep us from reaching for the sky for the things that are worth doing.

I started the new Outdoor Classroom with 4th graders last week. My goal with these kids is to make textbook science (California Standards being met here) come alive out in nature. I get just four chances this year to make the earth move for these students so I better have my game face on.

In the second hour of the day they were saying, "This is way more fun than last year! We didn't get to see all this stuff. Uh, Where ARE you taking us?" That last was as we humped over a nearly visible trail from one set of pit traps to another. "What are we going to find this time? What's that? Look at the bone!" We were headed for Bone Canyon 2 days before Halloween, an appropriate destination I told them. "By the way, who lives here? Who made the little trails? What happens at night out here, do you know?"

How do you make a pile of leaves exciting? Maybe you don't. Sue did though. She bailed me out just when I was needing a second wind. On the ground she had them clawing through the leaf litter to see what was down there. "FBI," she said. "You know, fungus, bacteria and invertebrates, the decomposers." So we moved to science in action. Two tiny plots in wire exclusions. We fill with leaves the first. The other we'll leave for now. Later we'll see; which grows better plants. What happens to the leaves. Oh the mystery of science in the field. I can't wait!

So, is this worth doing? If we're going to have folks who will take care of the parks it is. If we're going to have people who want to know what science is about it is. If we think kids need to get outdoors and have fun it is.

That was last week in my "job." Tomorrow, more students, different school and different agenda. I get simply one time with this group. Better get my game face on!

Old stuff below:
Once we retire (and I have) it is important to look at what's worth doing now.

I suspect that's why many retirement age folks keep working. It provides meaning. Its the reason many go back to work after a break.

Meaning comes from making contributions that we value and that we see others value too. Taking an old bike and bringing it to life for youngster is a great example happening at the Newburg Bike Shop that got my old mountain bike. Taking kids outdoors to learn about nature and science is part of my mission these days.

There's meaning too in having fun and sharing it with others. Photos from a vacation make me happy for long afterwords and I like presenting them to others. I never know what will come from that, from simple pleasure of sharing and viewing to an idea of what's worth preserving.

Connecting with others in the many varieties of relationships is of such value after the ready-made connections at work. Sharing a task with volunteers, creating a social group around common interests are a couple of ways to extend your reach.

Share some of your successes in meaning making will you?