Stories from Previous Interns

Jendell, 

I just want to say that this summer was “AWSOME” .  Being an intern at the Highland Nature Sanctuary has brought out the sunshine in my soul.  Finding that connection back to nature has been the answer to so many questions I’ve been asking myself.  Highland Nature Sanctuary has connected me back to

            The STARS that shine so bright at night

            The shapes in the CLOUDS I missed seeing as a kid

            The SUNSETS that I had lost

            The RAIN that brings joy and happiness

            The FLOWERS that bloom forth Nature's personality

            The BARN OWL that I can’t wait to hear at night

            The RACCOON named Midnight that comes to visit me every evening

            The BULLFROG named Homer that bellows his manly call

            The soothing MUSIC OF NATURE that never stops playing

            The SOIL that kisses my bare feet

            The ROCKS that tell stories of long ago

            And The TREES that are the heart of my world, and the shelter for all living things

 I wish to express that the education I have received from HNS in the first three months has been more than I received in  three years in college (at considerably less expense!).  I have gained wisdom that sadly most people are clueless about, and  I am finally following a path of knowledge that I have longed for my entire life.

Jendell Duffner, Jendell found her way to the Sanctuary through an "accidental" trip to Columbus' North Market.  Unsuspecting that this casual destination would soon be a catalyst to change her life, she passed by Larry Henry (at that time unknown to her) who was running "Benevolence, A Bakery" at the Market. She noticed his “TREE HUGGER” T-shirt, and, with her usual unrestrained exuberance, Jendell  told him she was a "tree-hugger," too, and that she had the exact same T-shirt at home. A lively conversation ensued. Soon thereafter she visited the Sanctuary for a week and fell in love with its essence. A few weeks later she moved out of the city and joined the internship program. Jendell's great passion in life is TREES. It is a common sight to see Jendell with tree books in her shoulder bag and sprigs of tree leaves in her hands, awaiting identification.  Jendell's current ambition is to help the internship program grow so that she can help others find the same joy and connection she has found living so close to nature.  Jendell's greatest gifts are her far-reaching vision, intuition, enthusiasm, and, most importantly, the joy that constantly wells up from the depths of her soul.  She is pictured here at one of our "Sundays at the Sanctuary,"  ready to put a fresh-basil,  garden-picked tomato, and garlic-drenched tart into the oven for a group dinner.    

Megan

Summer at the Sanctuary has been a time of awakening on my spiritual journey. Last spring, I was living the life of a typical twenty-something American girl. I had finished college and graduate school, traveled internationally, moved west, and found myself back in Ohio working 40 hours a week for a national non-profit organization.  Quite happy with all aspects of my life, things were moving along smoothly. Still I searched for the answers to all of those unknowns that left emptiness in my belly. I learned of an opportunity to do an internship at Highlands Nature Sanctuary. I had reservations about making drastic changes in my life. My family and friends were all very supportive of my decisions, somehow knowing it would help me find my truths even if it meant some sacrifices in our relationships.  I arrived at the Sanctuary with my eyes wide-open and felt an extremely peaceful and nurturing energy. It seemed as if each plant, animal, and human held the secrets and wanted to share these with me.

             Cooking with garden fresh vegetables and herbs with the realization you were the vessel for each plant’s life force to absorb your love before becoming a nourishing meal.  Composting techniques and acknowledging the importance of this practice to the circle of life.  Nature hikes identifying plants and absorbing the energy from the spirits.  We learned to maintain a flourishing garden using bio-dynamic techniques. Visiting spiritual burial mounds and reflecting on the lives of our predecessors.  Studying ancient mysteries and its views into personality and interpersonal communication. We were inspired and motivated by the stories of Emerson and Steiner.          

 We learned not only from the courses and books but also from our mentors: Nancy with her grace and intellect that would leave you near speechless with each encounter, Larry with his vision and ability to ask the difficult questions that your entice you to search to the depths for morality, truth, and justice, and from Ann with her gift of music, loving smile, and physical stamina that she so freely gives.     

As the autumn arrives and I move into the next passage I leave Highlands Nature Sanctuary feeling blessed and thankful for this experience.  A garden of seeds have been planted in my brain, now it is up to me to cultivate these ideas and ensure they come to fruition.  

JESS

Whether in school, or traveling, or in strengthening relationships with family and friends, I am continually participating in the journey that is my life.  Every step along the way seems to offer some additional insight that I eagerly gather up and put into the mix.  In choosing the words to express
what I have gained from my experience with the internship, I find that what I have learned has been internalized and is not so easy to articulate.

The concept of spirituality has never really meant much to me--although, looking back, it is something that I have been unknowingly been searching for all along.  Spending time at the sanctuary somehow created the right conditions for cultivating my own sense of what is spiritual. All those involved with the sanctuary are committed to its goals in body, mind, and spirit, and are a very inspiring group of individuals.  I discovered that there is much more in the world than solely that which is physical and tangible, and that it is possible to experience life more fully by expanding our awareness beyond the five senses.

It is not up to us whether we want to be connected to the natural world; it is our birthright as beings on this earth.  Living at the sanctuary has taught me how important it is to foster this connection. The trees have spoken poems to me that I have stored away for later use.  Poems that cannot be expressed in words; rather, it is the wisdom of the forest and it is a very old, strange kind of language.  I have watched as native plants of long ago make their way back onto the land, and have listened closely to glimpse an awareness of what my role in nature is supposed to be.  ...I am only just beginning to understand.

MELANIE, autumn 2002 to Autumn 2006

Life began for me in a forest. My years there instilled in me a deep reverence and a strong connection with nature. The land provided sustenance, comfort, beauty, and a place to play and marvel at its grandeur. My understanding of the world around me began in this way with a close connection to the land and an appreciation for its intricacies and wonders. This connection has never left me--it has made me who I am. However, now I am increasingly aware that the green places on earth, such as my former home, are dwindling. We have lost the reverence we once had for the earth, and consequently, we are destroying that which sustains us. Evidence of this exists in the growing tally of recently extinct species, the hole in the ozone, deforestation, and pollution in the air, water, and land. We lay waste to the earth through our shortsightedness, our desire for quick profits and power, and our growing apathy that turns us toward technology as our only savior. I cannot succumb to this apathy. I cannot idly watch as our lack of restraint bring down the world around us. Our survival rests on change, on a new path toward more environmentally- conscious decision-making and a greater respect for the earth. I have dedicated by life to this cause. I wish to seek alternatives to our unsustainable practices that will bring our economic system more in tune with the earth's fragile ecosystems. Furthermore, I want to promote more environmentally sensitive decision-making in our governments, businesses, and individual homes in order to nurture what natural life and beauty we have left.

Melanie transitioned from the intern program to full time staff member.  She has dedicated the last four years of her life to the Sanctuary.  What a beautiful gift she has given to the Earth.  Thank you, Melanie, for all of your contributions.