Books That Inspire
Land & Facilities Manager
Hatchet by Gary Paulson and published in 1986 is a fictional novel that follows the story of Brian Robeson, a 13 year-old boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness on his way to visit his father. Brian escapes a watery crash with nothing but the clothes on his back and a hatchet gifted to him by his mother before his journey. Brian has to keep his wits about him in an unforgiving environment to keep himself alive long enough to be rescued. Constructing a shelter, discovering which berries will make him sick and figuring out how to build a fire are all lessons he has to learn. Over time Brian’s skills increase and when a tornado pulls the wreckage of the plane out of the lake, Brian decides to make an attempt to retrieve the various survival items located within, but not before having to face his own mortality. After finding the radio transponder, he is able to send an S.O.S signal, resulting in his rescue.
This book spoke to me as a young adult because as child “trapped” in suburbia, I had always felt drawn to the woods and away from the roads, houses and malls that surrounded me. The idea of surviving through my own wit and strength in that kind of scenario inspired me to seek areas of natural solitude and expand my knowledge and skills for traversing these areas. I would recommend this book to any young person with a mind for adventure.
Forest School Director
While there are several books in the series, Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite escapes to the outdoors in written form. Written by L.M. Montgomery, the descriptive passages of the landscape of Prince Edward Island made it seem like a magical environment and inspire a strong sense of place. Anne is an orphan who has been “accidentally” adopted by elderly siblings Mathew and Marilla Cuthbert (they asked for a boy!), who give her a true home in the town of Avonlea. Anne’s charm, imaginative sensibility, and earnest personality make her a beloved member of the community, and her love of nature is a core part of her identity. The cherry tree outside her window is named “The Snow Queen” and locations in the area are named for their beauty: “The Lake of Shining Waters” and “Violet Vale” are some examples. The book is full of appreciation for the wildflowers of spring, so lovely to see after a long winter; the sound of wind through the trees; and one of the best quotes about fall: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
Scout & Public Program Coord.
I found A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold at a time in my life where I was quite uncertain about where I was headed. I was a sophomore at Virginia Tech with a passion for nature and the outdoors, and very little idea of what to do with it. Spring semester of that year I took a course on communicating the science of natural resources management, which included this book as part of the reading. There was something so moving about the imagery and considerate observation within the book that I found stirring. Leopold’s measured and practical consideration to the philosophy behind natural resources management was eye opening.
As the vibrant colors of summer fade, fall presents the perfect opportunity to gently put your garden to bed and set yourself up for success in the seasons ...
Each year in our Full Year Forest School program, unique student interests emerge as the group bonds with each other and the land. Once past the initial ...