The sun’s rays grow stronger with each passing day as we say goodbye to white blanket trees, animal tracks in the snow, and the quiet chill of a winter’s night. In January, I left my home in New York and followed the snowstorms to New Hampshire. Each swipe from my windshield wipers gave me clarity to the new life I was heading towards; an endless winter.
Winter brings with it curiosity and wonder, which is what I would tell myself when I was postholing through mounds of snow. As an avid three season hiker, I finally donned my new snowshoes and began my snowbound experience with new-born fawn-like steps. I was grateful I remembered to bring them when we forged through steep forest paths to gather water samples for GMCG’s RIVERS water quality monitoring program. The details surrounding adventures when I forgot to bring my snowshoes remain buried under the snow.
Soon, I would be teaching preschoolers how to follow, or stumble, in my footsteps. As the students wandered through their school’s garden looking for animal tracks, I was holding in laughter. Watching young children learn a new skill while wadling like penguins in marshmallow suits would bring anyone a little winter joy. Apart from their graceful walking, they showed determination and excitement when looking for signs of wildlife. As an educator, this gave me hope. The opportunity to enlighten and hopefully inspire young generations to learn about and care for their local environment seems to have helped my winter aversion.
In the past 2 months serving at Green Mountain Conservation Group I have grown a new appreciation for the New England winter. Winter has become my spring, a time for new beginnings and opportunities to grow. It is easy to look at a snow-covered mountain and deem it impossible to summit, but with guidance and determination, one might be surprised what can be achieved. I look forward to continued opportunities for personal and professional growth and am excited for all that I will learn in my time with GMCG.
Hali is a full term member at the Green Mountain Conservation Group, serving as the Education and Outreach Assistant. She enjoys exploring new places and looking for the best views. Learn more about Hali here!