The next “Sense of Wonder in the Field” blog post is live! In it, former Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge botany intern, Shannon Matzke, muses on the unexpected sense of place you can find in regions often thought as drastically different. Shannon writes:
“Recognizing so much in the familiar natural world of Maine, I found not only a sense of wonder while working at Rachel Carson, but also a sense of place. The connections between Maine and Louisiana made me feel at home in my new job that was far from my original home, and now these same connections carry over to my current home in Georgia. Feeling a sense of place works in tandem with a sense of wonder to foster a personal sense of environmental stewardship. I have spent years working on restoration projects using native plants in different states and different habitats, but I always have the same drive — the drive to protect and conserve the places that I know and love.”
As the botany intern, Shannon was responsible for a nursery with ~4000 native plants. Here, she can be seen in a sea of willows to be planted out for habitat restoration. Marlie Perkins/USFWS
Another great insight into the important work that goes on at the Refuge and the people doing the work! It seems unfortunate that Shannon didn’t get to meet the Sanford and Biddeford French Canadian contingent, as I’m sure it would have only added to her comfort here in Southern Maine, but maybe it will encourage her to return to Maine and the Refuge!
Shannon Matzke’s blog post: https://medium.com/usfishandwildlifeservicenortheast/sense-of-wonder-in-the-field-finding-a-sense-of-place-through-natures-connections-9cde299d67b0