As a professional in the early education field, I frequently ask myself how I can continue to connect children with nature and in an effort to build their environmental stewardship. While searching for a solution to my question, I asked myself what inspired me to care for the environment? During my introspective search for my personal “spark,” I was surprised to find that the answer did not lie in having exquisite play structures, the latest in expensive playground equipment, or being immersed in a wonderful theme park. While these things, of course, sparked my intrigue, and pulled me out into the environment, they did not inspire my soul or impact my character.

When I reflect on my childhood, I do not remember a certain play structure that really spoke to me. In fact, there was no “big moment”—instead, a collection of smaller moments created and defined my own values. What has built my environmental foundation was having a positive role model to inspire me—someone who engaged with me organically by following my emergent interests, with a conscious and gentle approach.