Savouring What Remains of the World’s Wildness: John Muir, Tree-Climbing, and Experiential, Outdoor Education

Abstract

Those who love the natural world have plenty to despair about in today’s world, as wildlands are carved into housing tracts and plumbed for oil and species after species are driven to extinction – a world in which we may well be warming ourselves to extinction. In the face of this daunting reality, I often find myself, as a teacher and scholar of environmental literature, turning to American author John Muir (1838-1914) for solace and inspiration. I also use Muir prominently in my teaching, especially when working with students in the Semester in the Wild Program of the University of Idaho – an experiential outdoor learning opportunity in the wildest region of the United States, apart from Alaska. One of the central texts of my course on environmental writing is John Muir’s “A Wind-Storm in the Forests”, which first appeared in Muir’s 1894 book The Mountains of California. Muir’s essay approaches botanical science in a full-bodied, emotionally engaged way, using a violent windstorm in the high mountains as a way to learn about trees – and also about the physical sensation of viewing and listening to wind, experiencing risk, and contemplating the meaning of wildness. The lessons of Muir’s passionate essay remain salutary, even necessary, in the twenty-first century.

Opsomming

Diegene wat lief is vir die natuur, het baie rede vir wanhoop in vandag se wêreld. Ongerepte natuur word omskep in gebiede vir behuising, en omgedolwe vir olie – en die een spesie ná die ander word tot uitsterwing gedryf. In hierdie wêreld mag ons onsself dalk net tot uitsterwing verhit. Midde-in hierdie skrikwekkende realiteit wend ek, as onderwyser en vakkundige op die gebied van omgewingsliteratuur, my dikwels tot die werk van die Amerikaanse skrywer John Muir (1838-1914) vir verkwikking en inspirasie. Ek verwys ook prominent in my onderrig na Muir, veral wanneer ek werk met studente van die Universiteit van Idaho se Semester in the Natuurprogram – 'n ervaringsgerigte buitelewe-leergeleentheid in die mees ongerepte streek van die Verenigde State, buiten Alaska. Een van die sentrale tekste in my kursus oor omgewingskryfwerk is John Muir se “A Wind-Storm in the Forests”, wat vir die eerste keer verskyn het in Muir se 1894-boek The Mountains of California. Muir se essay benader botaniese wetenskap op 'n volwaardige, emosioneel betrokke wyse, met 'n gewelddadige windstorm in die hoë berge as 'n manier om meer oor bome te leer – en ook oor die fisiese sensasie om na wind te kyk en te luister, risiko te ervaar, en oor die betekenis van ongereptheid te besin. Die lesse van Muir se geesdriftige essay is in die een-en-twintigste eeu steeds goed – en selfs nodig ook.