Preservation and change
Nature itself is dynamic, not static. Internal and external natural forces are always at work (wind, water ice, climate variation) changing the land, even as we attempt to preserve it.
Balance in natural systems
The food chain, the interdependence of plants, animals and the land itself, impact of new species, habitat, niches, extinction are all part of nature's balancing act.
History of the land
We honor the land when we seek to discover its past. The land has a history. Humans and nature have both played a role in shaping that history. Some parts of the land are living history. Some parts are only a memory. Both are important. The more we know about that history, the better we can understand and appreciate what we see in the present.
Impact of human intervention
This land will be impacted by human intervention. Examples might include walking paths; an underground sewer line; introduction of new systems (e.g. a wetlands area, croplands area, tree farm, etc.), feeding stations blinds, fences new plants, visitors. The land may also be impacted by human intervention in areas outside the Environmental Learning Center. We must be able to recognize and understand the effect of these interventions on the natural environment.
