Lab 8: The Awe of Sandstone

For this most recent blog assignment, I had the choice of discussing either limestone or sandstone, both common forms of sedimentary rock. However, since I have grown up in the south, I have decided to discuss the more exotic and foreign of the two, sandstone. Out west, especially in the desert Southwest, sandstone structures are very common. Some of the most incredible of these structures are the sandstone arches such as the ones in Utah's Arches National Park. Most of the sandstone in this area is derived from iron-rich red sand that, over time, has cemented into the structures seen today. Below is a picture of an arch, a link to an article about Arches National Park, and a video taken with a GoPro camera as people use "the world's largest rope swing" on an arch.

Arches National Park

Lab 7: Connecting to Nature

Our recent discussions in Geology have been on soil and sediments. This led to our lab period being in a local community garden. From there, we discussed the importance of getting back to nature, weather that is through silence, being outside, or working in a community garden. To me, getting back to nature means unplugging and going outside, and connecting to nature has always been a powerful experience for me. In fact, connecting to nature is so important to me that I will be spending my summer working as a counselor at a Girl Scout summer camp. The opportunity to work outside will allow me to truly listen to nature and to learn about myself and my surroundings, both things that I could not do sitting inside on my computer. While working as a counselor will give me a very different nature experience from simply hiking, backpacking, or camping, it will still get me outside and truly connected with the natural world. While Girl Scouts has given me the opportunity to connect to nature through camping, it has also allowed me to connect with and learn about nature in other ways. One way is that I have learned about sustainability, something I saw first hand in the community garden. We promise to "make the world a better place" and ways that we carry that promise out from a very young age (Daisy or Brownie age) are recycling, Leave No Trace, and other sustainability initiatives. The ability to connect to nature can bring a sense of raw happiness and empowerment. How will you connect?

Girl Scout Camping