Staff Spotlight: Kristin Burnside

I am from Lancaster, Ohio, and graduated from BGSU '23 with two BS degrees: one in Biology (dual-specializing in Ecology & Conservation and Marine & Aquatic Biology) and one in Environmental Science (specializing in Education & Interpretation).

I love hockey and have cheered for the Columbus Blue Jackets since the franchise was created. Every spring, I take a trip with my fiancé Sam to see as many hockey teams and arenas as possible. Our last trip took us to Pittsburgh, New York, and New Jersey, where we saw five games in total. On every trip, I seek out cemeteries to visit as well. The most beautiful green spaces are hiding under your nose in local cemeteries! I love to see the beautiful headstones and mausoleums as well.

I love to read, challenge my mind with board games, card games, and puzzles, and I love to birdwatch. Most of all, I love waterfowl. I had no idea there was so much to life until I began birdwatching. Birds are my #1 outdoor passion, especially the American Woodcock!

As a girl, I lived surrounded by forest, with rolling hills in my backyard and a country club golf course abutting the outermost edge of the forest. I spent many summer days searching for golf balls in the creek separating the properties for my dad and grandpa to drive back into the woods, and many wet nights hunting for morels with my mom and sister. We would pick black raspberries to make jam and find box turtles in our driveway. In these memories, I wasn't "learning" in the traditional sense, but these experiences led me to develop a deep love for and connection with nature that I am lucky to have. I wasn't going into the woods to learn; I was going to have fun and explore. A natural curiosity followed suit.

When I was first deciding on an area of study at BGSU, I was positive education was not for me. I did not see the appeal in teaching a captive audience, in being a "sage on the stage." During my time at BGSU, I discovered outdoor education: a more informal, experiential alternative to the classroom environment. I am devoted to lifelong learning alongside the child, and outdoor education is perfectly suited for that.

"Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and, when the grass of the meadows is damp with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning as it wakes every living creature that divides its day between waking and sleeping." Maria Montessori

In Montessori, the environment is a direct extension of the indoor classroom: outdoor learning complements classroom learning by anchoring concepts and ideas to the real world. Allowing ourselves to connect with nature on a level beyond simply "knowing" is essential.

Most of all, I hope they come away with a respect for nature and a sense of belonging and community with the land they are occupying and using. In the long term, I hope to develop a land ethic in the children where they see themselves less as "conquerors" of nature and more as equal members of the biotic community we occupy with the land and all within it. A child will take what they need from their time outdoors, and it brings me joy to facilitate that.

Connecting your child with nature and getting them to care is the first step in solving so many issues we are facing today. As one of the first generations that will be directly impacted by climate change, it is vital that we teach them to care from an early age. Simply being outdoors is scientifically shown to improve mood, emotional regulation, and behavior in children and adults alike. As our neighborhoods and cities become more developed and we are increasingly disconnected from the natural world, it is important for children to have the experiences that outdoor education provides.