Elena’s love for nature is no accident. Since she was just a gleam in her mother’s eye, Elena has been exposed to the wonder and magic of nature. Elena’s parents have made getting outdoors—rain, shine, and snow—a priority. As a result, Elena—a curious, bright and engaged preteen—finds an abundance of joy and wonder in nature.
For half her life, Elena has explored the trails of Bald Hill Farm with her beloved fur-companion, Freddie. Freddie—named after Freddie Mercury—is a soft, brown, adorable mini-Aussie who greets every opportunity to get outside as if he’s won the lottery. “He’s playful and curious. Sometimes my parents call me Freddie and him Elena,” she giggles.
Elena’s family moved to Corvallis from Washington state in 2012 and have actively explored all parts of Oregon. As a result, Elena has many nature favorites: from snowshoeing in the winter, the magical quarry near her house in northwest Corvallis, wading in cool waters on hot days with Freddie, camping with her neighbor Elliot (who’s dad is a great camp cook), to strolls around Bald Hill Farm whenever she gets the chance.
Her eyes widen, her face brightens and she leans in to answer the question about why she loves nature. “It is nice being out of the house, getting fresh air and exploring,” said Elena.
One of our favorite photos at Greenbelt was taken in 2013, of Elena and Freddie, happily running down a path at Bald Hill. Just look at them below, and try not to have a smile on your face! We decided to catch up with Elena and Freddie five years later … and although both have grown a few inches, not much else has changed … same delightful glee of being outdoors, together.
Elena and Freddie at Bald Hill in 2013 (left) and 2019 (right)
Elena’s mom, Jennifer, is a wildlife biologist and has spent a lot of time outdoors. Jennifer credits her parents for cultivating her love of nature, “Even though we lived in a city, we did a lot of camping and sailing. They encouraged me to explore.”
One of Jennifer’s favorite spots to run in Corvallis is on Mulkey Ridge and Fitton Green. “I love the variety of habitat all through there. You get riparian forest, meadow, and oaks … just such a variety,” said Jennifer.
As for passing down an appreciation of nature to the next generation, Jennifer poignantly shared her hopes for Elena, “I want her to continue to enjoy being outside, to have a curiosity about the world around her.” Turning to Elena, “I hope you don’t ever lose that—it’s pretty special,” said Jennifer.
by Larry Mahrt, Greenbelt Land Trust volunteer
Volunteers Larry and Clayton
On a beautiful day in late February – that special time of year when winter gives way to spring – seven of us ventured out for a hike. Our group was a mix of chatty hikers and others who favored quiet hikes. A couple of the quiet hikers hinted that they would prefer the group engage in fewer conversations so they could concentrate on the surrounding forest. The chatty hikers responded by saying that, for them, hiking in a group is a social thing.
Gradually, the quiet hikers put a little distance, about 50 yards, between themselves and the rest of the group. I remained with the conversation group but hoped they wouldn’t get too interested in identifying plants and birds because I can never remember the names and I’d convinced myself that I did not care (ego protection measure).
After listening to the conversation for a while, the guy next to me mentioned that he saw a “Blue Crested Western Nut Cruncher last week” (don’t quote me on the name). His statement demanded a reply. This was the conversation group, after all! I thought to myself, “what is a Blue Crested Western Nut Cruncher and why couldn’t it have been a crow or a robin?” I considered responding with, “yeah, those Nut Crunchers sure have strong beaks,” but I thought it sounded a little lame. Instead, I mentioned that it seemed too early in the season for Nut Crunchers. Thankfully, he had the same impression.
After successfully negotiating that conversation, I chose not to press my luck and gradually made my way to the safer, quiet group. If you see a Nut Cruncher while hiking with this group – it’s best kept to yourself! However, soon after arriving I learned that a little conversation was tolerated and even laughter, once in a while. As I hiked along, I wondered if my fellow quiet hikers were immersed in the ambiance of the forest or, if their minds were wandering or maybe even thinking of stressful things.
For me, it’s effortless to clear my mind during a long hike on a cold, rainy day. Eventually, I become too cold, wet, tired and, sometimes, hungry for my mind to wander or to be burdened with thoughts of deadlines and to-do lists. My mind takes on a more primitive perspective, focusing on meeting basic needs like getting to a warm, dry place and eating something. Meditation skills not required.
Years ago, my dog Kayge and I would get away from it all by traipsing off-trail cross country through the coast range. We rarely saw other people. Sometimes my concentration was on figuring out where to go and how to avoid getting lost. Thankfully Kayge always seemed to know her way back. Over the years hiking together, Kayge and I ran into a number of shy or oblivious black bears and twice, we ran into unaggressive cougars – my favorite kind! These hikes were a real escape.
These days, I prefer well-maintained trails. Recently, while hiking along Mulkey Ridge Trail on a day with passing, cold showers, I thought how nice it would be to have a small espresso place discretely located uphill from the trail … maybe with fresh, warm scones and homemade soup. I am not proud of this thought.
Thank you for your interest. This event is now full.
Join Greenbelt volunteers and OSU Service Learning students for an afternoon of restoring oak savannah habitat at the Bald Hill Farm Conservation Area.
Activity:
We’ll be removing invasive species and Douglas-fir saplings before they get bigger and threaten oak restoration sites. Also, we’ll be repairing trails to make them dryer and safer for this winter!
Participation:
Recommended for ages 15+. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
If you have any questions, please email rebecca@greenbeltlandtrust.org.
