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What is nature? How do we connect with nature?

Nature is really a complex subject, but a good way to think of it may be to say that nature is everything that isn't "us." As humans, we interact with our environment and the beings that share it with us all the time. We even have nature inside of us-- millions of bacteria live in our guts and on our skin! More often, though, when we refer to "nature" we mean the space, plants, and animals outside of our homes and bodies. When we think of nature, we may think of a forest, a public park, the desert, the seaside, or even our own backyard! Perhaps what we mean by "nature" is space that hasn't been utterly changed by the actions of humans.


People may connect with nature in different ways. Personally, I love to take walks in the grass and feel the earth under my toes! I also have a garden where I grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. In these ways, I interact with the natural world around me that is still a little bit wild. Some other means of connecting with nature directly may be swimming in a natural body of water, watching birds, or sitting in the shade of a tree. Though I've listed some simple and direct ways to connect with nature, almost every action a human takes in their life has some impact on nature directly or indirectly.

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