The Huron-Clinton Metroparks have been a place of sanctuary for me during one of the most difficult years of my life. Through endless job-searches, rocky mental health, and a delayed gallbladder diagnosis with episodes of intense pain, life has felt pretty bleak for me lately. During my hospitalization, I remember longing for the trails and birds, and ultimately the peace. It can be very easy to lose sight of the things that make our Earth truly beautiful, and worth sticking around for. As soon as I was cleared to hike again after gallbladder surgery, I would frequently go to Kensington Metropark to immerse myself in nature and experience sorely needed joy. It became a place where I could help heal my body AND my brain, which was (and is) a lifeline during my hardest days. Wether I was watching Great Blue Herons rebuild their nests on the rookery after a windstorm, jumping up and down after spotting my first American Widgeon, or hearing the largest woodpecker in North America, the Pileated, drumming away at a tree above me, I soaked in all the wonder and joy I possibly could.

I joined the Trail Challenge and fell even more in love with the Metroparks while watching Caspian Terns dive for fish at Lake Erie Metropark, watching a monarch caterpillar molt right in front of me during a class, or watching Belted Kingfishers zip along the Huron River, all the while deepening my knowledge of the natural world. As an adult it is so important to experience things like awe, wonder, and natural curiosity, as it feeds the soul. It also becomes a lot harder to do so with the responsibilities and realities of life. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks system has become an oasis for me, acting as a lighthouse while I navigate though bad weather. I am so deeply grateful for them, and the amazing staff and programs they offer. Thank you! -Lauryn