A Tour of Two

I have had the opportunity to lead several adult groups on tours of Nachusa and the Tellabs Unit. There is always an abundance of questions and some of the questions asked are the same on each trip. "How many bison are there?", "How big is Nachusa Grasslands", "What is the name of that plant?", "What does 'Nachusa' mean?" On a warm, Sunday evening I accompanied two guests on a romp around the grasslands and the forest. There were no questions, just adventure and play; I even learned a little bit.

A child born near the coast in Washington and a child born in Colorado enjoy the grassland together.

"Every child is born a naturalist. His eyes are, by nature, open to the glories of the stars, the beauty of the flowers, and the mystery of life."  —R. Search

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." —Kahlil Gibran

"One should pay attention to even the smallest crawling creature for these too may have a valuable lesson to teach us." —Black Elk

Among the tall oaks and the green herbs broken sticks and sand in the two-track are brushes and easels for young imaginations.

"As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells of mud and listen unselfconsciously to the soughing of the trees."  —Valerie Andrews

What I thought could be a lesson on nutrient recycling and fertilization was interrupted so I could be informed that an apatosaurus had accidentally stomped on the egg of a T. Rex.

"We must remain as close to the flowers, the grass, and the butterflies as the child is who is not yet so much taller than they are. We adults, on the other hand, have outgrown them and have to lower ourselves to stoop down to them. It seems to me that the grass hates us when we confess our love for it. Whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times." —Friedrich Nietzsche

"If you wish your children to think deep thoughts, to know the holiest emotions, take them to the woods and hills, and give them the freedom of the meadows; the hills purify those who walk upon them." —Richard Jefferies

"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside." —Maud Hart Lovelace

It was a great tour. No scientific names were uttered. No numbers were shared. No ecological concepts were described. Sticks became swords, rocks were thrown, the grass cushioned multiple falls, laughter muted the birds, and a bull bison grazed unconcerned. I encourage you to visit Nachusa and perhaps bring a child instead of a field guide.

"We could have never loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it."
—George Eliot 

Text and photography by Tellabs Steward, Mark Jordan.

To explore the Tellabs Unit, follow the Stone Barn Savanna Hike.