Field Notes
A curated collection of my ongoing writing, observations, and reflections from the field. These posts, originally featured on campkawartha.ca, document the daily practice of environmental education and the evolving stories of connecting children to the natural world. Select an article below to continue reading the full story on my primary archive.
When Too Safe Becomes Unsafe
Jacob explores the hidden risks of a sedentary, indoor lifestyle. He argues that while we worry about the physical risks of being outdoors, the real danger to children lies in the lack of "Vitamin N"—leading to a decline in immunity, mental health, and the resilience that only time in the natural world can provide.
Belonging Beyond the Self
Addressing the modern epidemic of loneliness, Jacob suggests that our disconnection from the Earth is a primary source of our restlessness. He explores the concept of "natural loneliness" and offers a path home through tending ecological bonds and remembering our place within the vast, unfolding story of life.
Your Better Sense of Nature
Drawing from his book The Book of Nature Connection, Jacob shares practical sensory activities to help us tune into the "textured tapestry" of the environment. From "Deer Ears" to becoming a "psithurist" (a connoisseur of tree songs), he provides tools to activate our senses and deepen our bond with the living world.
Rewilding Our Words
In this reflection on language, Jacob examines how our vocabulary often reduces nature to a "resource" or a "commodity." He advocates for a "rewilding" of our words—moving toward a language of kinship and reciprocity that recognizes the inherent worth of the soil, the water, and the more-than-human world.
Carrying Nature Inside
Jacob questions what we lose when we outsource our knowledge to digital apps. He invites readers to cultivate "full-bodied knowing"—the deep, lived understanding that comes from repeated, device-free encounters with nature—and explains why this personal relationship is vital for conservation and stewardship.
Outdoor Education is a Venue. Why?
Jacob challenges the idea of outdoor education centres as mere "venues" for recreation. He posits that the true point of outdoor education is to foster a transformative relationship with the land, moving beyond activities toward a profound sense of stewardship, belonging, and ecological identity.