Throughout the experiences with Dunwoody Nature Center, I feel like this week was the most hectic and fun I’ve had yet with the amount of tasks that I completed. The last few weeks have essentially just been very chill, but this week was exciting because I got to help prepare for the Fairytale forest festival. The nature center hosted this festival to showcase many fun and exciting events that can be educational for children while also allowing them to play around and show of their creativity. There were many things to do such as tree climbing, painting, coloring, and so much more. Before the festival, I got to work with the center to digitally create signs that showcased an aspect of the forest that would be educational for children. The ones I worked on were the backyard birds station and the forest habitat station. My volunteer partner, Raihannah worked on the wetlands station. I feel like the experience of getting to digitally create these signs was particularly exciting for me as I enjoy practicing any aspect of digital design. Because of the amount of work I’ve had, I hadn’t had the opportunity to do it until now, and I’m extremely thankful because it’s inspired me to get back in touch with my passion for graphic design. Moving on, I’m enjoying my time at the nature center because it’s also allowed me to get in touch with my surroundings and start exploring the outdoors more in my free time. I often find myself going on walks throughout the nature center’s park and admiring the nature around me. More-so, I’ve been able to prepare for the festival through tasks that require me to pick leaves for children’s projects. While volunteering, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about what these creative projects are meant to teach children. I’ve learned about how creativity can go hand in hand with education. The nature center thrives to allow children to showcase their creativity while also learning about the nature that constantly surrounds them. Stations where children can paint bird houses serve as a way to showcase their creativity while also giving back to the world little by little.
Hi Dua,
It is tough to work with children. I am not good at that too. However, it’s exciting to hear about the nature center’s opportunities to encourage children’s creativity through hand-to-hand activities. I am glad that through this volunteering experience, you were able to retrieve your passion and give you a chance to relax with outdoor activities. I hope to hear more updates from you.
Mina
Hello! The festival looks amazing! I like how the Dunwoody Nature Preserve is present different ways of helping children learn about nature while also highlighting the importance of it. I also relate to when you talked about spending more time at the center helped you go out on walks more and appreciate nature, which I have been also expanding on with the increasing help of my organization. The nature center and what you are contributing with it is such an inspiring way to put forward creativity and education for the younger generation! The pictures you provided are so pretty as well!
The Fairytale forest festival seems like such a lovely event and I’m so glad that you enjoyed being able to take part in it. I especially loved how you remarked on “how creativity can go hand and hand with education” because it makes me so happy to see an place like the Dunwoody Nature Center making education not only desirable but fun for all ages. I also love the fact that the children were able to make birdhouses—just seems so adorable. The fact that you have such a beautiful location visually to work at seems like such a joy and I am glad to hear that you are enjoying it.
Hi Dua, the Fairytale Forest Festival sounds so fun! It’s so great to allow kids to be taught something while they also have fun. Being given the opportunity to also digitally create the signs must have been fun because you were able to show more of your design skills while volunteering. The idea of painting bird houses is so sweet for the kids too.
The pictures look great! Hope the last couple of weeks of volunteering continue to go well!
I am so happy that this volunteer experience has had such a positive impact on your person life! I know the work you are doing with the organization is important and amazing, but it is even more special when it carries over to your own experiences and life. I applaud you for loving digital design. I am so terrible with technology! The event also sounds so amazing. It sounds like you all have been apart of many wonderful events and I am so glad the next generation is going to be raised with the experience and love of nature!