Being born and raised in North Carolina, I’ve always felt attached to the flora and fauna that flourish in this state! It wasn’t until I started teaching myself the names of these magnificent beings that I began to understand how many friends lived in the forest, and how interconnected we all are to our shared natural world. I’ve been leading free nature walks in Durham for over a year, to build community, raise awareness, and get folks excited about what’s going on outside! Whether it be a crack in the sidewalk or a rare plant sighting, we should all feel empowered to connect and remember their names. 

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.” 

-Baba Dioum