By Joe Murphy
As the year draws to a close and our thoughts turn to the holidays, gifts are given in the spirit of love and connection. ‘Tis the season to give the gift of nature.
There are many meaningful ways to celebrate nature as we celebrate and observe those things that matter most. Gifts of time and place, gifts of legacy and land, and gifts of hobbies that connect us to wild places all should be on your holiday list.
Our family has always tried to give each other the gift of experiences, particularly time spent in nature. The older I get, the more profound my realization that physical items have less meaning and experiences are the true currency of the soul. Time well spent in nature with people you love is valuable beyond measure.
I’ll confess that this is an adult concept. If I received a gift of a promise of time and travel when I was a kid, I would view it with some degree of skepticism. It’s hard to hear a gift like that when you shake it in a box.
So, with our kids and grandkids, we can use the holiday season and the gifts we share as a chance to introduce them to a lifetime of connection to natural places while still wrapping some presents to open.
A bird feeder, some birdseed, a good backyard bird guide and a window view of the visitors that come to feed provide some cool physical items, along with endless opportunities for time spent together. A nest box for the backyard or a bat house can set in motion discovery and knowledge that transcend what can be found on a video screen.
A decent fishing pole (rod and reel), a starter tacklebox, a few “how to” books on fishing and a net do not cost much, but can open a world of wonder and connection to nature that can last a lifetime. These gifts, coupled with an investment of time and a willingness to seek out new and exciting places to practice this ancient art, will always be remembered.
It is a magnificent experience to stand at the water’s edge, peering into the darkened water of a Florida river or lake, and wonder what lurks just below the surface. And when the powerful and electric connection is made, when a wild creature takes the hook and begins to pull, that magical moment is addictive. Sharing that experience with our children is a gift for all involved.
A Florida State Parks annual pass and Passport booklet for logging visits to parks are an excellent family holiday gift, coupled with a commitment of time to visit and explore their endless wonders and share adventures.
Florida’s state parks are world class. You can find them in every corner of the state. You can do almost anything in them (camp, fish, paddle, ride horses, get a cabin, watch wildlife, picnic, geocache, ride bikes, stargaze) and they belong to you. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/floridastateparkspass.
Other excellent holiday gifts include a mountain bike, a pair of binoculars, a walking stick, a flashlight, a tent, a sleeping bag, a water bottle, a microscope, a telescope or a compass. Give them, explain why and then use them together.
Find your special place, your park or state forest, to enjoy together on a regular basis. Explore that place through the seasons. Note the changes in landscape, wildlife and the quality of the light over time. Create a sense of place with those whom you love. They will love you for it.
Children who love nature now and enjoy time spent in it raise children who do as well. We will only save wild Florida if we inspire in future generations a love of what we love.
We will come and go, leaving little evidence of our time here. But legacy can last into eternity. This holiday season, give the gift of nature and set into motion a legacy for the people and places you love.
Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives in the southern Nature Coast of Florida. Banner photo: A family paddles in a canoe (iStock image).
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