I returned to Centennial Woods and took a 20-minute hike through the trails. While walking, I thought about how accustomed I have become to the area by visiting this park so many times. As a woman, I often feel scared to hike by myself since I grew up always hiking with my dad. I think that this phenology project has allowed me to become more confident and comfortable exploring nature by myself.
Today, I saw many more people than usual hiking. I saw other students doing the City Nature Challenge, some bird watching, and others just hiking like me. This reminded me of how close this park is to campus and the city in general. It’s so special to be able to have an area, even a small one, to be able to escape to nature. I feel like culture and nature intertwine here because of the communal value everyone who visits has for the park. Being so close to the city, this are could easily become pollute, but it’s not. Everyone I saw visiting was staying on the trails and being overall respectful to nature.
My site has changed since I first visited in the winter to the spring. There are so many more trees and plants currently blooming, the ground has become muddy and grass-covered. There were many more birds being active in my recent visits than before. The water in the streams also seems to be moving faster and with more force than in the winter due to the snow melting.
I plan to continue to visit this site often, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed hiking and running the trails here. I hope to keep noticing and appreciating the phenology of the area and the importance of having nature so close by.
