This week I went back to my spot in Centennial Woods again, and it snowed! All of the trees and plants were bare except for the conifers. There was a bit of leaf litter on the ground still, but the snow was covering most of the ground. When I got there, there was only a dusting of snow, but it was still exciting. It was super quite too, even more than usual. My sense of place in my place has changed a bit through the changing of the seasons. During the summer, it was super green and lively and it brought me a lot of happiness and I felt as though I could sit out there for hours. When the leaves started changing, I still loved going out there, but it was not as exciting. When everything was bare, and it was a bit chilly out I was not as excited to go and it was not as enjoyable. However, going during the first snow was super exciting. I feel as though my connection to this spot gets deeper and deeper every time I visit.
My spot is a small area in a large plot of land called Centennial Woods. Centennial woods is owned by the University of Vermont, where I study, and is only a short 10 minute walk from where I live. I think it is important that Centennial is connected to UVM, and the city of Burlington. It makes me feel like I belong even more, and it is a great place to walk to and re-center and relax.
My spot has a really rich history, which is really cool. Knowing the history of Centennial woods helps my connection grow even deeper. So many people and things have walked through and existed in my spot. It was first settled by the Abenaki people, then European settlers came and deforested all of it. It was then used for sheep and dairy operations until University of Vermont obtained the land and reforested all of it. I think that it is cool knowing a brief history of my spot and it definitely makes my connection even deeper.
The natural areas and outdoors like my spot in Centennial is a huge reason that I came to University of Vermont. Being a short walk to woods but still having the city right around the corner is super nice. This visit to my spot really allowed me to step back and think about why I am at UVM and what this campus and place means to me, and it could not have come at a better time in the semester.
