Culmore teens explore nature
Teens from Culmore got a chance to experience nature this summer thanks to volunteer Jo Doumbia, who organized weekly field trips for them.
The teens went kayaking at Riverbend Park, took a nature walk at Huntley Meadows, went fishing at Lake Fairfax, and took part in a “forest bathing” exercise at Wolf Trap.
Forest bathing is a way to use all five senses to explore the woods and “get yourself consciously connected with nature,” Doumbia says.
The youths, ages 13-16, are active participants in the Culmore Teen Center’s Youth Council, a program facilitated by Second Story, says Andres Curtin, strategy director for the Opportunity Neighborhoods Program at Bailey’s Crossroads.
“Culmore has a lack of trees and not as many recreational opportunities as we would like,” Curtin says. “These kids don’t have many opportunities to get out of the area and explore the nature we have in Fairfax County.”
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Second Story provided transportation. Because the teens are from low-income households, River Bend Park and Lake Fairfax Park waived their fees for equipment rentals. The parks also provided naturalists to lead the activities. Doumbia served as translator for the teens learning English.
Doumbia organized the Culmore program under the sponsorship of the Fairfax Master Naturalists organization. That group also provided food for the teens and additional volunteers.
Doumbia, a resident of Annandale, has been an active volunteer with several programs, including the community gardens developed by Hands On Harvests.
In addition to the Culmore summer camp, Doumbia and other Master Naturalists give a presentation on a nature topic at the Culmore Teen Center once a month throughout the year. The sessions have addressed climate change, composting, local waterways, and similar topics.
Doumbia believes it’s important for kids to be exposed to the natural world. “Everybody has to be a steward of the environment. And everybody should learn to enjoy nature and learn how to preserve it.”
“If you enjoy a walk in the woods and love what you see,” she says, “you will still have that connection later in life.”
Thank you, Jo Doumbia and all others involved in this admirable effort. I couldn’t agree more about how important it is for kids to learn about nature and have positive experiences in it, especially for those from lower-income areas such as Culmore.
I love this!!
Great work, Jo! It is so important for kids to explore nature. Our youth will remember these opportunities and share them with others as they grow older. Everyone should understand and know our natural world. These experiences may result in adults who appreciate, nurture, preserve and enjoy our natural environment.
Greetings from Colombia
Jo, this is invaluable! Beyond the experiencing of the beauty of our world, you and the other master naturalists are showing these young people that they matter, are cared for, and that their curiousity matters. WEll DONE!
Forest bathing? Is that what we used to call “skinny dipping” back in the day? I know when you shed all of your garments you are completely exposed… to nature.