Many people today lack a strong connection to nature. This may be attributed to being out of touch since childhood, or to not being out of reach of cell phones and other technology. Some pieces discussed in class have led to this idea of being distanced from the natural world.

The Wilderness of Childhood piece addresses the loss of freedom to explore the natural world as a child. This lack of experience causes children to be out of touch with their surroundings from a young age, so that they may not fully appreciate the world in which they live. The author describes taking his daughter for a bike ride and says, “As we wandered the streets of our lovely residential neighborhood at that after-dinner hour that had once represented the peak moment, the magic hour of my own childhood, was that we didn’t encounter a single other child.” The gap between two generations is utterly disappointing, since the children of today often lack such rich relationships with nature and even with their neighbors.

The article Outdoors and Out of Reach explores the effects of heavy use of technology on how people think and behave, as numerous scientists retreat into nature without cell phone access for a few days. The scientists suggest that the addictiveness of this digital stream of information may affect decision-making skills and other intelligent thought processes. This “drumbeat of incoming data” creates a “false sense of urgency that can affects people’s ability to focus.” People are so strongly affected by ideas and information so readily available to them, and the constant usage makes everything seem more urgent and rushed. People survived and got along well before such technology was even available, so the opportunity to step away from it all shows the scientists that not getting information about something immediately, such as a grant, is actually not the end of the world. I wholeheartedly appreciate their conclusion that they, and others, should aspire to be less engrossed in the digital distractions of today and be more engaged.

Both pieces address different ways in which the modern world has evolved away from nature. Children are sheltered indoors, while most people are dependent upon technology to adequately enjoy their days. This does not need to be the case. We should encourage children to enjoy their childhood outdoors, and we should set positive examples for each other to remain engaged and not distracted by trivialities.