One of the best parts about my job as an environmental scientist and biologist/botanist is getting to spend time outside in somewhat untamed places. I relish the sun on my SPF30-covered face, the breeze (and usually some sticks) in my hair, birds singing while walking through prairie grasses and wildflowers, a bit of mud, and pushing through the occasional wall of thorny briars. Granted, some project sites are more exciting and picturesque than others, but being outdoors is always very gratifying.
Over the years I have tried to explain to coworkers the dual sides of my job: sweaty, hard work and sometimes long days balanced with the simple pleasure of being outside. The typical feedback I get includes disparaging remarks about anything that may bite, poke, scratch, sting or slither by if one dares to step away from pavement and into the true outdoors. But with good planning and basic safety in mind, the few hazards are outweighed by the rewards.
Occasionally, the opportunity arises to take a thrill-seeking colleague with me to assist with fieldwork. I delight in these opportunities because I can share my knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world, especially our native flora. I find it particularly rewarding to take someone to the field to get them out of their comfort zone.
I recently took a young woman with me to assist with two days of field work. She had never spent any time outdoors. None. Fortunately for me, she had an adventurous spirit and was up for a challenge. The first morning at our project site we played follow the leader as she learned about our tasks and how to navigate the vegetation and terrain. As she became braver, she was eager to do more to assist with our work. On day two, she charged into our untamed workplace, no holds barred. There were many good questions asked and mysteries about the natural world solved over the course of those two days. While she was initially very much outside her comfort zone, she soon became much more comfortable just being outside in nature.
This experience showcases what I love about field work. Once out of the office, field work allows a person to let their guard down even if they feel uncomfortable. It’s an opportunity to establish trust. There is a steady pace to most field work; it’s not a race, and this allows for more questions, insights and conversation. It lets me relate the work I do to a bigger picture of all the work WE do collectively at Mead & Hunt. And it gives me a chance to share my passion for the natural world (especially plants) and the resources it provides us.
Getting to work outside and enjoy the natural world is one of the things I love most about my job. I am hopeful that sharing my knowledge, enthusiasm, and small doses of work wisdom has allowed a few coworkers to expand their comfort zones, build trusting relationships, and gain new perspectives, just as I have.