Top 10 Inspirational Nature Quotes from James River Ecology School Students

by Jessica Templeton, JRA Education Manager

The James River Ecology School on Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is a place where time seems to stand still. Typical everyday distractions like cell phones, city sights and sounds are left behind and soon long forgotten by students who visit Presquile. Even after only a couple days of hands-on experiences in the field, exploring and learning about the intricacies of the natural world, students leave feeling inspired.

On an overnight program, we ask students to reflect on their experience and capture their thoughts about their time on Presquile in a quote. Those who choose to can place their quote in our anonymous Ecology School quote box.  In their own words, here are the top 10 inspiration quotes and moments from students during this past spring season at the Ecology School:

1.       When you connect to nature, you disconnect from troubles.

2.       Respect yourself, respect others, respect the world you live in, and everything else will fall into place.

3.       Nature, a simple word with vast amounts of greatness and beauty.

4.       We are not above nature – we are just one organism amongst millions, why shouldn’t we respect it?

5.       Sometimes you just need to stop whatever you are doing and just think, breath, and appreciate.  Appreciate the beauty of the world around you.  Savor the moment, before it is too late.

6.       Never does one feel more lonely than when sitting in nature, yet there is unity in the loneliness.

7.       Nature is neato.

8.       Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

9.       Any place can be good, but the people there make it great.

10.   You will never know the true degree of our connection and dependence on this planet until you experience nature itself, until you build that essential relationship. This, such an easy and quick action of the mind, will truly impact everything you do.  Just as human relationships constantly evolve so does that between man and nature.

I expect as these students grow and progress in life, they will find inspiration in their words well past, but still influence by, their time at the Ecology School. Maybe, even one day, we will find their words inscribed on the boardwalk planks at an environmental education center helping to inspire youth much like they too were inspired by what they saw during their stay on Presquile.