Ria Tyagi ’24 sets up bird feeders in the woods and birdwatching for her project.
From spending a week without social media to building fairy houses in the woods, students in Dr. Stephen Siperstein’s Environmental Literature class are undertaking various projects inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s book, Walden. The book details Thoreau’s experience of being isolated from human civilization at the famed pond in Massachusetts and his intent to “live deliberately.” Through the project, Dr. Siperstein challenged students to do something that is different from their daily routines for a week.
Cathy Liu ’24 focused on “doing nothing” in the woods by the Kohler Environmental Center (KEC). Amid her involvement in numerous extracurricular activities, including the Girls’ Varsity Crew Team, the Spring Dance Concert, and Concert Orchestra, Liu “found [herself] in the midst of chaos, and … this project was a way for [her] to find [herself] again, like Thoreau hoped to do.” Throughout the project, Liu has found an interest in observing plants in the wild, such as skunk cabbage. For her, living deliberately means finding peace and clarity among her many commitments.
Having discovered the importance of reciprocity, gratitude, and living with intention, Pascale Senatus ’24 spent the week without using social media. “I just found that I’m on my phone too much,” said Senatus. “So, I decided it would be a good idea to … do something that would be challenging and would benefit me.”
Attempting to find a deeper meaning behind darkness and silence, Suzie Kim ’24 found time to stargaze and search for constellations. “Thoreau had an ideology of going back into the natural world … for me, it was [about] reconnecting with the night and the stars by going out into the woods,” she said. Kim connected the project to her childhood, when she was enthralled by constellations and Greek mythology.
Constanza Aportela ’24 walked to the main campus from the KEC instead of taking the shuttle and meditated in the woods before sunrise. When walking in nature, Aportela realized that she noticed much more of the environment around her when there are no distractions. “If I turn on music, walking becomes a race. If I listen to birds chirping or the sound of my feet on the gravel, I can truly experience the world around [me],” she said.
Chris Childs ’24 woke up early to explore the woods and used what he saw to write a poem. Though it can be hard to find inspiration every day, he has learned to “connect deeper with [himself] and [the] spaces around us.” Deep reflection was helpful when writing poems, especially since he was immersed in his surroundings, alone with nature.
Erin Balduf ’24 built fairy houses, creating designs that she will ultimately compile into a photobook with a map of each design. Balduf was inspired by Thoreau’s idea that people can build creativity throughout their lives. “Going back and having fun doing things in nature that would not seem difficult [to] a child but now as an assignment is just such an interesting thing,” she said. Through building fairy houses inspired by the natural world, Balduf hopes to reconnect with her childhood.
Many student projects involved stepping away from the chaos of society to experience and appreciate nature. Like Thoreau during his time at Walden Pond, KEC students are also gradually changing their habits, perspectives, and lifestyles.
“Studying in the EIP [Environmental Immersion Program] means grappling, emotionally and intellectually, with the challenges we face in the world today,” Dr. Siperstein said. Through this project, Dr. Siperstein hopes to help students connect with their environment and experience a different lifestyle in today’s fast-paced society.
