Sense of Place at the Nearby Park

1)  Do a nature journal drawing of some of your observations while in the park, it can be the whole thing, or of a small thing you noticed (Like someone said they saw squirrels hiding food in rocks, you could depict this).

2) Take a picture and upload your drawing.

3)  Reflect on the interconnectedness of you and the trees and living beings who reside in the park.

Everything in nature is interconnected. It starts with the trees, who give us oxygen to breathe. This allows for squirrels and other small animals to help spread seeds from trees around by burying nuts and eating fruit from trees. This cycle keeps parks healthy and clean.

4)  Reflect on how you value the park.

This park was beautiful. It was a lovely place to spend some time just thinking. The water made everything more blustery and cold, but it was refreshing.

5) Reflect on how this park plays a role in your own sense of place in Salem.  Explain.

This park allows me to really feel interconnected to my surroundings. While trying to fnd your place on a college campus is equally as important, connecting to nature also has it's merits. I now know of a place where I can go just to sit, walk around and observe. It's nice knowing I have a place to be.

6) Reflect on the field trip in general and what you liked most about going there.  Reflect on what you did not like.  

I loved going out on my own simply to experience my surroundings. I did not like having to answer questions (not that I don't like work, but I felt it ruined the experience). Next time I'd much rather we take pictures.

7) Reflect on whether or not you would like to do more little excursions like this one.

I would love to more stuff like this!

Referring to the article, please reflect on ways to develop a sense of place. Explain.

     - There are many ways to develop a sense of place according to this article. This article refers a lot to become one with nature, or at least interacting with it. In Salem, I believe it can be used in certain places, but not all. That's why I think the best way to find a sense of place is to simply to learn about the rich history of the city.

Record what you have done already as part of developing a sense of place in Salem.

     - I have learned a lot about the history of the university itself. This made me feel as though I could relate to where I live. In addition, I also joined a sorority. I did this to make friends and to feel at home at the university.

List the way the article suggested to foster a sense of place and explain what you have done that is similar. Explain in depth.

     - The article listed a lot of things that have to do with nature, like talking to rocks, touching trees, and simply feeling the earth under your bare feet. I personally have done number 14, attending, but in a different aspect. I have attended meetings for my sorority, so I could feel at home.

Record what you read about in the article that you have not tried but want to.  Share the aspects from the article and reflect on why you chose these. Explain.

     - One thing I would love to is number 10. I personally love water; I've loved swimming as a kid. However, I love water in nature. It's beautiful, and I love going on hikes to see different kinds of rivers.

Record what you read about developing a sense of place that you have not tried, but are afraid to try. Explain why.

     - From what I have read, there isn't anything on the lost I'm afraid of trying. Some of them I wouldn't do simply because I feel like they're not very applicable to my situation.

Record what you read about developing a sense of place that you have not tried and have no interest in trying. Explain

     - The ones I have no interest in trying are the ones that focus on talking to nature, like touching a tree or talking to a rock. I don't think that they're stupid. But I feel like they won't make me feel more at home here.

Panel and Advising

1. Please post about  A) the panel, B) the types of information you gleaned,  C) what struck you about how to succeed in College and D) what struck you about student life at SSU.

A) The panel was very informative. The FYMs told us about places to eat, as well as places to get help. They also told us about opportunities to become a FYM.

B) I learned about how to deal with bag checks and use the Degree Tracker.

C) What struck me was how important time management is.

Second, Justin Snow came from advising to talk to you about advising. He reviewed degree tracker with you. Sense of place is also all the people who are around who can help you, support you, make college a place of success. 

2.  Please post about advising, Justin, your adviser and getting in touch, and your perspective of support at SSU during advising and thinking about your spring semester at SSU.

This meeting really helped put my spring semester into action. I visited with my adviser today, and he helped me to pick my classes. Now that I know how to operate career tracker, I feel like everything will fall into place. This meeting also helped me pick my concentration.

3.Please post a picture along with the post. Some ideas are: IN this case, you can take a picture of the advising schedules, or the course catalog, or a fall day, or a spring day...trying to imagine beginning spring semester already.

  

4.  Post a link to where you are getting support for advising, registering etc.

http://www.salemstate.edu/resources/

Farmer's Market, 10/13

Did you meet with the person you signed up to talk with?  Did you meet with anyone else?

My classmates and I met after our classes at 2, and then proceeded to walk to downtown Salem. We did meet Melissa.  :)

What struck you about the farmer's market day you went?  Did it compare to your expectations?  Explain.

What struck me was how many vendors there actually were. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller. The thing that struck me the most was how many people were actually there. I also expected it to be in a field, not the middle of the city. The later in October it gets, the busier it becomes.

What were the questions you developed prior to the farmer's market.

1. How did you get into this business?
2. How long does it take to make honey?
3. How do you flavor it?
4. How much do you make on honey alone?
5. What’s the difference between your honey and store bought honey?

What are the answers you found out from your farmer you spoke to?

2. It takes about the bees a week and a half to make 1 jar of honey.

3. It is flavored depending what flowers were pollinated when the honey was made.

4. Bee keeping is a commodity, so it really depends on how many bees survive the winter.

5. Store bought honey is pasteurized.

Post everything you learned.

I learned about the different things this farm produces. In addition to honey, they also have eggs and maple syrup. I also learned they have a lot of farms, in 8 different locations. In addition to that, I bought some lip balm, made from beeswax. :) It was called Bee Poop.

Post your thoughts and reflections on the experience.

I thought it was a good day for a farmer's market. It was sunny but not too hot.

Post how this contributed to your sense of place.

This contributed to my sense of place because it helped me discover downtown Salem. I never would have went there on my own.

Last: post images you took with your camera, or drawings in your nature journal:)

Think about the campus, and the location of the library.  How does the location of the library contribute to the sense of place of SSU campus?

- The library contributes to a sense of place because it's very open. It allows for students to meet and to work together.   

What did you learn from Jason about the library itself, and its places?

- I learned a lot about how students can find resources for their essays. I particularly enjoyed the study rooms. These rooms allow for 8-12 students to gather and study together. There is a TV in the room as well.

What did you learn from Jason about researching?

- I learned about CRAPP. This system shows you how to find reliable resources for essays. I also learned how to look for books in the library.

What did you learn about Mapworks?

- I learned that you can learn about what sources you need specifically as a student.

Post a picture of the library, preferably one or a few you took.

Post a link that relates to your trip to the library.  Critically think about this, and go beyond the library link, but rather something related to what you learned about, or places like buildings, etc. Explain the link you shared.

-http://www.shepleybulfinch.com/project/salem-state-university/L18/

I shared this link because it shows how the library is beneficial to all.