“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the
mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this
emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe,
is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
― Albert Einstein
Anyone that has routinely studied our natural surroundings
by “getting out there,” has a Naturalist’s Eye.
Naturalists love to spend time observing and recording natural events;
an endangered flower on the prairie, an eagle “watching us” in a park, and a
flock of thousands of snow geese landing on a lake. Yes, we’ve done all that and much more as
Missouri Master Naturalists.
While Master Naturalists have available considerable
training opportunities from many experts, it is with our eyes that we become
Naturalists. Our eyes lead us out to
prairies, woods and lakes filling our minds with mysterious experiences that
become education. Our eyes are open to
conservation needs, and that spurs our hands to actively pursue projects to
protect nature. Our eyes are the windows through which our hearts receive love
and devotion to nature, so we can share it each in our own particular way.
The person who said, “Beauty
is in the eye of the beholder,” regarding art must have had a Naturalist’s
eye. Many famous painters worked
outdoors to capture natural forms. John
James Audubon could not have created his famous watercolors of birds without
spending so much time observing them in their natural habitats. Claude Monet’s outdoor paintings hang in many
famous museums worldwide. He attributed
his eye for nature to be his most important accomplishment when he said of
himself; “My only merit lies in having
painted directly in front of nature, seeking to render my impressions of the
most fleeting effects.” Monet was known for dragging his contemporaries,
Renior, Sisley and Brazille, also famous artists, on his outdoor excursions. Such
famous artists, all with the eye of a naturalist, brought nature to
others. Who would challenge that these
famous artists were not “naturalists?”
Who is better to become an advocate for conservation of
natural resources than those who love and study nature than a Master
Naturalist? Each of us has particular
interests and talents, along with the drive to preserve and protect our natural
surroundings. Each of us finds a way to
share our knowledge by unobtrusive measures to those whose minds are open to
learning along with us. Each of us has
our eyes open waiting for the beauty of nature to inspire us. After all, anyone who does not “stand in rapt
awe” at the sight of a tiny bug, a delicate flower, or a red sunset, must be
those who truly have their eyes closed.
Master Naturalist chapters are available in most states. Check in your own area to see if you can find a local chapter. It is a great way to add
your voice to conservation and preservation of your natural surroundings.
