Canadian nature

Growing up in Canada I took for granted the environment I was raised in. Although I live in a big city I am not far from the mountains and the beautiful night sky. When I was twelve I went to an eco camp with my classmates, we drove out to the mountains and stayed for a number of days in large cabins. I can’t quite remember when in the year this was, there was a lot of snow but it wasn’t bitterly cold outside. We spent the days going on hikes through the mountains, playing animal games, doing critical thinking activities, and learning about nature.  I remember one night specifically we walked out to an open field and learned about the stars. Our camp leader pointed out various constellations like The Big Dipper, The Little Dipper, and Orion’s Belt. He also showed us where Jupiter is but I don’t recall being able to locate it.

What fascinated me most about the mountain sky was the Milky Way, in the city you can see all the constellations we learned about but you cannot see the Milky Way. Looking up just and seeing what looks like a millions lights suspended in the sky honestly takes your breath away. It reminds me of being downtown and looking up while surrounded by skyscrapers, it makes you dizzy and puts into perspective how small you are.  I can still remember what it was like laying outside in the snow, other than the chatter from my classmates and lecture from the camp leader there was no sound, no cars, no buzzing from streetlights or appliances.

Picture source: http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos.asp?ID=3003231



Being in the mountains in the winter gives you the most still feeling, on calm nights you can go outside and even though its cold you want to stay out forever. Sometimes the sky is so big it seems like you can see the curve in the earth, I don’t know if that’s what it really is but it sure feels like it. One of the things I miss most about Canada after moving to Texas is the mountains, being able to look beyond the city and see them everyday spoiled me and I want them back! It does not help that some of my friends work at ski resorts and post pictures online of all their fun work experiences. 

It is little life lessons like eco camp and personal experience that has made it harder to be away from home and the natural landscape. I definitely think that coming to Texas has made me appreciate the beautiful places I have been and where I come from. Even though I like the Texas heat and appreciate that it’s march and I am wearing shorts rather than a ski jacket I will always miss the mountains.

This is the city i grew up in, always sunny and the mountains always have snow (this is summer).

Calgary Alberta Canada

Picture source: http://www.fergie.ca/aboutcal.htm