A few weeks ago I had the honor of being a delegate to the World Environmental Education Congress. Aside from sharing some of the great work we are doing together at LREC, I was able to learn about ways environmental education is thought of around the world. With delegates from 58 countries, it was a very enlightening experience to say the least. Over the coming months we’ll be working to enhance our programs based on ideas I picked up there, but for now just a quick, easy to use thought.

In one of the sessions I was participating in, Ron Tooth (director of an ecology center in Australia) commented that all too often we expect the extraordinary to capture our attention. In his work, he tries to flip that on its head and encourage people to “find the extra in the ordinary.” Beyond the play on words, there is a certain wisdom in Tooth’s argument. Instead of expecting to be wowed by some major spectacle, he encourages us to look for the quiet but fascinating bits in what we otherwise take for granted.

I had a chance to do just that a couple of days later on a field trip some of us took to Stanley Park, Vancouver’s major urban park. As we were sitting under a tree discussing different strategies for engaging people with nature, I chanced to look at the ground in front of me. A glossy shine stood out against the rich soil on the forest floor. Just a bit of effort brushing the soil away brought a slug to the surface. From there, everyone in the group focused on its motion and how it responded to obstacles placed in its way. People shared ideas and experiences, leading to a rich and memorable discussion.

As teachers, we are encouraged not to miss the “bird in the window” spontaneous moments. For us it was a “slug on the ground” moment that was no less extra in what would have otherwise been an ordinary talk in the woods. I hope as you and your kids get outside, you too find the extra in the ordinary. And share some pictures with us. You can see “my” slug in the photo accompanying this post.