Nature is Always with Us

Hi, I’m Kylie. I joined the City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council (YFC) in the summer of 2022, after graduating from Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. I am currently attending Syracuse University, majoring in Environmental Policy. I joined the Youth Forest Council in hopes to learn more about urban environments and green careers. While participating in the internship, I experienced my first semester of college abroad in Madrid, Spain. Now, I am currently located in Syracuse, NY, studying at Syracuse University. I knew I wasn’t going to be in Austin for my Community Action Project, so I tried to think of a project where I could appreciate nature while experiencing new things and sticking to my roots (pun intended). I thought of an online post where I could talk about my own experiences, while also informing others of the benefits and impacts nature has on our lives. Here it is: 

Austin is very unique. Austin appreciates nature, and the usage of plants and natural life aids the people of Austin’s health physically and emotionally. I can’t imagine growing up in a place without as many trees as Austin. All throughout my childhood, I was able to experience the outdoors and especially the hot Texas summers because of the trees. I spent my summers going to the Austin Nature and Science Center's camps, where I learned about different aspects of the scientific world. I remember one particularly hot day when we walked from Barton Springs to the Center. At this point in the summer, the grass had been fried and was reflecting sunlight; Zilker Park resembled a desert. It felt like we were melting under the hot sun. The only relief we had was stopping under any tree in our path. To this day going to Austin parks, such as Dick Nichols and Zilker, with my friends is one of my favorite things to do. 

Everywhere you look in Austin, there are oak trees. Live oaks, specifically, impress me. The tree's long tangled and perfectly climbable limbs make them an easy tree to recognize. Although I am allergic to oak tree pollen and spring is difficult for me, I still appreciate the trees for everything they provide. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the Texas Summers because their leaf coverage provides shade from the beating Sun. 

Throughout my life, I've been lucky enough to be able to travel. I've found a love for learning about another culture by immersing myself in the streets of that given place. When I received acceptance into my university's first semester abroad program, I had to take the opportunity. I knew nothing about Madrid besides that they spoke Spanish and ate Paella. I was told Madrid was a city and didn’t have any trees, so I was nervous, but when I got there, I discovered there was a multitude of trees everywhere. I recognized some of the most common being Sycamores, which are great at taking in carbon. On our first outing with YFC, we learned that Sycamores are usually planted near parking lots, and in Madrid, they lined the streets and the parks. It was nice to see a known plant in an unknown city. As you can probably tell from the location of the photos, one of my favorite places to go was Parque de El Retiro or Retiro Park. It's a gorgeous and huge park, similar to Central Park in New York City. It was a place in the city to take refuge from the industrial stresses.

Somehow, I didn’t feel too scared when making my transition to living in Spain. I was too busy trying to navigate the metro and the Spanish language to worry about the fact I was across the world. In a city like Madrid, there is always something happening. I would go to cafes, markets, and museums in my free time. But to get away from the hustle and bustle and find my thoughts, I would go to Retiro Park. 

During Study Abroad, we got a week off of school that acted like a Thanksgiving break. A couple of my friends and I traveled to Paris. We toured museums and tourist attractions, strolled along the River Seine, and got crepes in the Jardin de Tuileries. It was nice to see a river similar to Lady Bird Lake again after only seeing Madrid's stream-like river for two months. Paris was also the first time we felt Fall temperatures and saw leaves that had changed color. 

My first three months on Syracuse’s campus consisted mainly of overcast days and below 30 degrees days. Only some trees remain with leaves at this time of year. Snow also covered the grass, so I felt a bit distant from nature other than my view of distant forests. However, one random day in February, I experienced the first 50-degree day in Syracuse with no wind! Everyone was out on campus, which helped me realize how many people actually go to my school. The lawns were covered with friend groups trying to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible. The scene reminded me of Austin’s Zilker Park in the summertime. I discovered how easily nature can bring people together. The sun was shining, music was playing, and laughter was all around. It was beautiful. 

Syracuse was different than Austin and Madrid. There was less to do, and it was cold. Like really cold. I couldn’t escape outside like I usually had, because the weather sometimes added to the emotions. However, I learned that in the absence of nature, you appreciate it more when it is there. When the sun is out on campus everyone enjoys it. 

For spring break, my friend and I decided to go to New York City. When we were there, the sun came out, and we got to feel 50 degrees for the first time in three months. It felt like we were photosynthesizing. We visited the High Line, Hudson Yards, and Central Park. These spaces allow people to temporarily feel like they’re leaving the city while also being surrounded by it. It felt great to be in a city again. One where natural elements are incorporated. 

This map consists of moments when nature was with me.

I have always had a connection to nature – from going camping with my family and visiting the Austin Nature and Science Center as a kid, to exploring environmental careers in the Youth Forest Council as a college student. 

Nature has always been with me and has been a grounding resource for me. I can rely on it to make me feel better. I look for it everywhere, and that’s why this project has been important to me. I think everyone should have something in their life that they can rely on. Nature is an easy one. Even in concrete jungles, you will find a sprout of grass coming out of the sidewalk cracks.