As we walked around FGCU to the Food Forest and nature walk I was stunned by how much I did not know was part of FGCU. At the Food Forest I was able to see what kind of impact the students of FGCU have had by positively adding to the environment and ecosystem. I saw so many different trees and bushes that have had a distinct positive effect on the surrounding wildlife; I saw birds and a field mouse make use of the efforts of the Food Forest volunteers. In addition, on the nature walk I saw how the whole of campus is truly sitting in the middle of a thriving ecosystem and that the environment that FGCU was built upon is still conserved in a meaningful way. Both of these experiences have helped to further develop my sense of place at FGCU. I thought of FGCU as just a campus to go to class, but now I see the beauty of nature that surrounds those classrooms.
Richard Louv's ideas on Nature-Deficit Disorder and Restorative Environments really spoke to me as I have experienced these effects first-hand. The first institution I attended was located in Arkansas which is known as The Natural State. Looking back on my experiences there I see that when I returned from the camping and river trips I took there I felt more at ease, better, and I could accomplish more. Returning from these trips I felt a mental reset which I think contributed to better concentration and work immediately after these outdoor trips. Being exposed to the nature walks around FGCU has shown me that I can use them to my advantage by relieving stress and reducing my direct-attention fatigue by visiting and appreciating them in the future.
