The Nature Teacher

Summary: We tend to think about nature as though it is something “other,” as though we are not part of it. No child must be convinced that a trip to see gorillas at the zoo is interesting, or that the fluffy seeds of dandelions can be fascinating, yet by the time they become adults, many groan and tell stories of the difficulty and boredom they faced in their high school science classes. My passion is to enable students to encounter nature in such a way that it awakens and encourages the sense of wonder and adventure we all felt as children; to remove the barriers that inhibit our inherent curiosity. I believe this is best accomplished through active participation in outdoor wilderness experiences designed to guide students in observing and thinking well about our natural world. The goal is to develop a fascination with exploration of our world, our place in it, and our responsibilities to care for it and for each other. ***ABOUT THE AUTHOR*** Christopher Bryan holds a BSE in Biology from Emporia State University, Emporia KS (1995), an MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Newman University, Wichita, KS (2005), and an MDiv from Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, MO (2009). He and his wife have taught at public and private schools in Kansas, Missouri, Ecuador, and Taiwan. Along with their dog, Maggie, they now live in his hometown of Lawrence, KS, where they teach at Bishop Seabury Academy. Christopher also serves as a chaplain in the Missouri National Guard.