Samson Girma- The Outdoor Lab

When I was doing research for my paper for this class, I read that the best way to make people form an appreciation for nature is for them to actually go out and spend time in wilderness or a natural place of some sort. This made me think about the Outdoor Lab. According to their website, the Outdoor Lab is a “natural classroom” where “urban youth--often for the first time-- can run in a meadow, climb a mountain, hike beside a stream or fish in a pond.” All elementary school children in Arlington County visit the Outdoor Lab and when in fifth grade go on an overnight fieldtrip there. I never thought about why only young children in the county go to this place, but now that I think about it, it’s to help spark an interest and relationship with nature in people at a young age. I think more places should invest in land preservation not only for the sake of keeping the land intact, but also to help make sure the next generation has an appreciation for nature and has the interest to be environmentally responsible.