Emma Bartone

02/22/2019 On Friday, our colloquium class had the opportunity to go canoeing at the Vester Marine Station. I felt prepared for it because I own a kayak back home in Connecticut, so I have some experience. I paired up with Josh and Carla and I was in the back steering the boat. I helped them out because Josh had never been canoeing before and he was in the front. Luckily, we did a good job and did not tip over or hit into anything (besides the oyster bay). We were able to canoe down the estuary and see some really interesting things that I have never seen. We identified some mangroves and I learned there were three different types in Florida; red, black, and white mangroves. Each of these mangroves plays an important role in Florida’s ecosystem. I did not bring my phone so unfortunately could not take any photos however I found some from the internet. They provide nurseries for fish and shellfish. I also learned that they protect shorelines from damaging s...

Six Mile Cypress Slough is a beautiful area located in Fort Myers. It is a calm and peaceful place despite all of the other visitors walking through the trail. As soon as we arrived we did an exercise where we felt our surroundings and the grass around us. We were told a little about the Six Mile Cypress Slough. I also learned that a slough is a slow moving river. After a little introduction we began to walk the boardwalk. As we walked along the trail we were informed about different aspects of Six Mile Cypress Slough. I learned that one of the lakes was man-made. We were able to see an anhinga grab a branch with leaves to bring back to his partner. I felt more connected to nature after walking the path. We saw a lot of blood lichens on the trees and cypress knees which are large root systems. We saw a banded water snake, turtles, many types of birds and cypress trees. The slough was a very fun and interesting trip and I learned a lot about Florida wildlife which is extremely differen...

The Nature Deficit Disorder article was relatable to me because I have struggled with ADD growing up which has made it harder to focus on schoolwork and take longer to work on certain tasks. I am prescribed one of the medications for ADD, Vyvanse, however, sometimes I don’t like the way it makes me feel so instead I’ll go for a run or sit outside to be able to clear my head and focus better throughout the day. The article states how many parents notice changes in their children’s stress levels and hyperactivity when they spend time outside which I could not agree with more. Engaging in nature definitely soothes and relaxes you so that it makes you focus on completing tasks better. It also says how “being in nature was more restorative than the physically challenging activities” which is true because even if I just sit down outside when I’m stressed and take in nature and everything around me, I am able to clear my mind and get things done quicker and efficiently. The ...