Finding Mindfulness in Acadia: A Playlist

Ava Pawlowski https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm One thing that struck me in Terry Tempest Williams’ (2017) essay about Acadia National Park in her book “The Hour of Land” was her deep connection to Acadia, particularly the coastline and the ocean. Our in-class discussion about mindfulness and its personal significance led me to discover that I, too, find mindfulness […]

Balancing Act

Ava Pawlowski https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm An element that particularly stood out to me in Terry Tempest Williams’s (2017) essay on Theodore Roosevelt National Park was the park’s superintendent, Valerie Naylor, struggling with the oil drilling happening on the park’s fringes. Having grown up in the vicinity and developed a profound connection to the park, she faced the […]

Family Bonds in Nature’s Embrace

Ava Pawlowski https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm Terry Tempest Williams’ (2017) essay about Grand Teton National Park perfectly captures the essence of familial bonds amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Williams describes how the mountain range stood as a silent witness to several generations of her family’s shared triumphs, challenges, and the simple joy of being together in nature. […]

Our Refuge in Nature

Photo by Brooke Martoccia, 2022. Brown County State Park, Strahl Lake. Brooke Martoccia In Terry Tempest Williams’ (2017) second chapter of her book The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks, she speaks of her knowledge and experience with Grand Teton National Park. “I was not born here, but my consciousness toward […]

ON Sense of Place- A Playlist

Lizzie Allen “not to catch you by surprise” by Cayden Wemple- laying on the rocks at the quarry in the summer sun “Drop Stop Roll” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise- driving in Bloomington with the windows down and my best friends “Moscow” by Autoheart- biking the rolling hills of Wisconsin “Applesauce” by sam.sts- sitting in a […]

On Beauty- A Photo Essay

Lizzie Allen The beauty of an honest living The beauty of an uncommon home The beauty of community The beauty of a boundary The beauty of seclusion The beauty of handiwork Context and Application These six photos are my favorite from my time in Acadia, all taken by my grandfather. At many points in […]

Intention Behind Interpretation

Brooke Martoccia Gettysburg National Park Website Link: https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm Photo by Mary Harrsch, AT A GLANCE In Terry Tempest Williams’ fifth essay of her book The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks (2017), she talks about her multiple trips to Gettysburg National Military Park. In one of these trips, Williams went on […]

On the concept of national parks- a sort-of poem

Lizzie Allen Why parks? These majestic, awe-inspiring tracts “A vision seen through the horrors of war…a unifying peace for a divided nation” (Williams, 2017, pp. 7-8) Formed to preserve the land, maintained to preserve the people Dependent upon it For activity, for nature, for mindfulness, for curiosity And to acknowledge the people Once dependent upon […]

Evolving Idea not Best Idea

Brooke Martoccia Photo by Corban Pollitt, 2023 Link to article discussed in this essay: https://www.npca.org/articles/1137-no-national-parks-are-not-america-s-best-idea In the first chapter of Terry Tempest William’s (2017) book, The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks, Williams begins the book by defining America’s national parks. A quote that seemed significant to me was “I no […]

Through a 4-Pane Window

Julia Keats In my watercolor painting, I made it look like you are looking out a window into the different beauties of Acadia National Park. This painting is my visual interpretation of some of the descriptions Williams uses in her essay. In the top left corner is the “table set with lily pads”, in the […]