My name is Liz Palmer and I am a freshman, studying Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. As one of my first major assignments as a college student, we have been asked to choose a place in or around Burlington to visit and revisit to explore the concept of phenology and build a connection to place. This is my journey.

“Find one place you can get to know really, really well. This is the most important routine you can develop. Know it by day; know it by night; know it in the rain and in the snow, in the depth of winter and in the heat of summer. Know the stars and where the four directions are there; know the birds that live there; know the trees they live in. Get to know these things as if they were your relatives…these are the most important things you can do in order to excel at any traditional skill. Nature and your own heart are your best teachers, but your body, mind and spirit all have to attend class and do the homework. There is no replacement for this experience!”

—Jon Young, Naturalist and Tracker