Nature Journal: Part 4

            On September 27th, my roommates and I went on a camping trip to Hennepin, Oklahoma. In all honesty, it was not the most scenic car ride I have ever been on, but it was well worth the trip. Overall, the trip took a little over two hours, but we stopped at Turner Falls on the way. Turner Falls is Oklahoma’s tallest (and maybe only) waterfall. Below the waterfall is a huge pool of water that is crystal clear. The reason the water is so clear is because the majority of the pool floor is rock. The reason we chose Turner Falls is because it came as the highest recommended camping site within a couple hours of TCU by several members of the outdoor program. The waterfall itself was worth the trip but I also especially enjoyed the field where we camped. We set up tent near a clump of trees alongside a small lake. We were surrounded by farmland as far as the eye could see. We spent the day exploring the property and at one point found ourselves in a cattle pasture that was right next door. However, after taking the day to explore, we finished setting up our tent and used the provided fire pit to make a fire to cook our hamburgers. It was not until that night that I realized this was the first time in literally years that I had been able to look up and actually see the stars. Something about this moment has stuck with me since that day. The thought that something as amazing as the stars is something that I hadn’t thought about in months because I don’t see them every day was eye-opening. It made me reconsider the world we live in today and the sacrifices we have made as a society to live in a world that has electricity and power. I understand that these are necessary to our present way of life, but that realization left me wondering at what cost. I often imagine what the world would be like today if we did not live in such a careless society. There are parts of this world that we have experienced that our children and grandchildren will never be able to see. The thought that future generations might not ever be able to see the stars left me sick. I have a hard time understanding how a single person can make a difference in a world that seems to care so little about the environment. Regardless of what I can or cannot do, I am thankful for the opportunity to go out and experience nature in its pure and unsullied form. I hope to continue taking in all nature as to offer and do my best to maintain it for those that come after me.