What Traveling Has Taught Me About Nature

Last November I participated in an Environmental Science lab which was a 4-day field trip to Catalina Island. We drove from Saint George, Utah to Long Beach, California. We visited the Aquarium of the Pacific and then boarded a ferry that took us to Catalina Island. The experiences there were amazing! I thought I was connected to nature before, but that trip changed everything for me. (A few of my earlier entries were about my time there.)

I gained a greater appreciation for the ocean and the animals that it is home to.

In February I was able to visit Arizona. I had previously lived there, so it was fun to go back. This is one of my favorite pictures of Arizona! It's on the border of Chandler, looking out towards Gilbert. The beautiful soil and cacti are some of my favorite parts of Arizona.

I honestly don't remember where this is, but it was taking while driving up to Salt Lake City. Utah's hills aren't as green as Alaska's but there is something about them that is absolutely beautiful!

For as long as I can remember I've loved capturing pictures of how the sun interacts with plants.

Diamond Valley has lots of good places to go hiking!

Everyone in Saint George knows about Dixie Rock and Pioneer Park. There are many beautiful hiking opportunities out there.

The Grand Canyon is close by, an easy day trip. The views don't disappoint!

My first time going to a beach was a few years ago, in Hawaii. My sister and I visited 6 or 7 beaches in less than a week. The crashing of the waves and excitement of the other people made us eager to get in the water and join them! My sister later decided to take surf lessons and enjoyed becoming a part of the ocean for a few hours.

The Dole Plantation was not only a fun "must-see" site; it also taught us a lot about how pineapples and other plants are grown. A tour of the plantation helped me to see how much effort goes into caring for each type of plant and the reward that comes with a plentiful crop (I'm not talking about the money, but the satisfaction that comes from hard work).