Raising stewards of the land with Group for the East End

If you live on or even just avidly visit the North Fork, there’s a good chance that you’ve spent time exploring the natural landscape. From Sound and Bay beaches to plentiful hiking trails, many outdoor activities enjoyed on the North Fork are ones in nature. Living here and raising a family rooted in gratitude for our surrounding environment got us thinking about what we can do with children so that they’re connected to the landscape, caring for the land and waters around them. Luckily, we’re not left to navigate that alone. With many programs and East End non-profits focused on the conservation and protection of natural areas, we look to them to guide us in raising stewards of the land.

Petite North Fork spoke with Outreach Director Taralynn Reynolds and Environmental Associate Kristen Bashen of Group for the East End, a non-profit that has led the way in protecting and restoring the environment on the East End through education, conservation, and advocacy since 1972. 

“Part of this work is to connect people back to the natural areas around them, urge our community members to add back in natural elements at home and to steward the land that they love to visit, like beaches and nature trails,” Taralynn told us. 

Here, Taralynn and Kristen share helpful tips for making children an integral part of land stewardship with our Petite North Fork audience.

Photos courtesy of Group for the East End

Q: What does it mean to be a steward of the land?

Taralynn: Being a steward of the land can look different for different people, it’s a journey one must take on their own sometimes. For me, it means caring for and protecting, restoring, and advocating for wildlife, wild lands, and the rights of all community members to have access to green spaces that are healthy and safe. It’s a responsibility and a privilege to be able to have a fundamental relationship with nature. 

Q: What role can kids play in land stewardship?

Taralynn: Oftentimes, children can be overlooked when it comes to land stewardship, but the opposite is true. They must be an integral part of land stewardship from the very beginning. At home in their own communities is where they’ll learn a lot about their world outlook on natural resources from clean air and water to protection of wildlife, and what it means to live as a part of nature as opposed to outside of it. Here on the North Fork, children have many opportunities to learn about and thrive in nature, from beaches, marshes, woods, and more. 

Q: Why should pre-teens/teens care about the land and waters of the North Fork?

Taralynn: This is their home and they are part of a small but growing group of kids watching change happen, from development to climate change, the loss and return of wildlife species, the decline in insects, the return of river otters, bald eagles, and more. Not every kid is as fortunate to have access to beautiful beaches and wild places in their community, and it’s their voices that will protect and restore what’s left. 

Q: What are some things that families can do together to grow interest in and help protect natural environments?

Kristen: Create a native garden together, go on nature walks, go on vacations with a nature element (like a national park), start composting, engage teenagers in local politics (show them the news), and teach them about climate change and its consequences.

Taralynn: Get outside! Get out in your yard if you have one, walk to a nearby green space, or hit the trails with your friends or family. Spending time together hiking, beach combing, and helping to pick up marine debris or trash left on beaches or trails benefits both us and the wildlife we share our environment with. Disconnecting from technology is essential. Learn to be patient as you look up in the trees for signs of life. Perhaps you see a flash of red, and use this opportunity to help your children learn about cardinals or woodpeckers. You can help open a whole new world to them. 

I’m often impressed with how much our North Fork kids know. They’ve grown up with an inherent knowledge of osprey, marshes, the best fishing spots, the beauty of a North Fork sunset, the call of a great horned owl, and so much more. It’s our job as adults in their lives to foster that sense of wonder and help them discover all the amazing secrets of the natural world.

Why is it important for kids to be in nature?

Kristen: To appreciate nature and the environment, it's important to understand it. Without being outside and learning about it, it's impossible to understand it. Aside from learning about how our ecosystems support us and how the environment works, nature can be a de-stressor and promote creativity and individualism within children. 

Taralynn: Time spent outdoors lowers stress levels in kids and adults and exposes them to fresh air where they can run, jump, roll in the grass, or splash in puddles — things that sometimes get pushed aside in our hectic lives. We must make time to be in nature. It's still a place where they can just be kids.