Here are student summaries of survey observations with visitors to the Tillamook Forest Center, adapted for the public Rain Festival event. Click on any title for details, then return to see all titles.
Environment & Community Building
Event: Tillamook ForestInterviewer: Anya
Whom did you interview?
During the Rain Festival at the Tillamook Forestry Center, I had the opportunity to help conduct a survey focused on environmental engagement. One interview stood out during this event, it was with a group of people who appeared to be part of a community involvement and support program based in Beaverton, Oregon. The group was led by a female coordinator and consisted of individuals ranging in age from 30 to 60. They represented a diverse mix of people with varying backgrounds and lifestyles. I noticed that some of the participants were dressed in construction uniforms.
Throughout the survey, the group members shared their perspectives on the role of nature in their lives. One of the most notable themes was how nature served as a tool for creating connection and bonding within their community. While they didn’t believe their community bonded because of nature, they did acknowledge that outdoor activities had been a valuable addition to their program. The coordinator explained that their group also enjoys camping, fishing, picnicking, and attending events in the city. However, the group members admitted they didn’t often make time to be outside as much as they would like. Nature did not appear to be a top priority in their everyday lives.
The coordinator, in particular, mentioned that she had been looking forward to attending the Rain Festival all week, noting that the event provided a much-needed opportunity to relieve stress and connect with others. It was clear that, although their engagement with nature might not be as frequent as they would like, experiences like these were meaningful and offered a sense of relaxation. This seemed to reflect the challenges of incorporating time outdoors into a busy, often urban, lifestyle.
During my conversation with them, I identified several possible Ecotype axes. I noticed that they seemed to prioritize a relationship between humans and nature. They did not express any desire to create spaces where nature and humans are separated. At the Tillamook Forestry Center, they particularly enjoyed the hands-on exhibits, reflecting their desire for the interconnection of humans and nature. One member of the group even shared that fishing was a major component of their life, yet another example of this value. Because of this, I would place them on the hybrid side of the nature axis, and on the crafted side of the aesthetics axis. Finally, they expressed that nature ranked low on their overall priorities. For this reason, I would place them on the anthropocentric side of the ethics axis. Overall, based on my observations, they demonstrate the characteristics of a human-centered place.
What larger MCJD lessons did you learn?This interaction proved to be a great example of the concept “Many Care, Just Differently.” When I took the Ecotypes Survey, I identified with the non-human place. During my adolescence, my parents placed a high value on getting outdoors, and I inherited many narratives that emphasized a strong separation between nature and humans. This experience allowed me to interact with individuals who had grown up differently from me, and engage in meaningful dialogue about our feelings regarding environmental issues. I consider myself fortunate to have had this experience, as it’s not often that I get the chance to engage with individuals from a different demographic, generation, and set of values. It’s unlikely I would have had the opportunity to connect with them otherwise.