{"id":13645,"date":"2020-03-19T10:13:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T14:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=13645"},"modified":"2020-03-06T14:26:14","modified_gmt":"2020-03-06T19:26:14","slug":"in-your-words-dustin-ledgard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-dustin-ledgard\/","title":{"rendered":"In Your Words: Dustin Ledgard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s Explore<\/a> member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. In the Spring 2020 issue, we interviewed three counselors from Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp<\/a>. You can also read Nina<\/a> and Jackson’s<\/a> stories. If you have a story to share about your connection to Mass Audubon, email explore@massaudubon.org<\/a> to be considered for In Your Words in a future issue! <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dustin
Dustin Ledgard leading a silly Camp Olympics activity involving shaving cream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t remember a time when I wasn\u2019t fascinated by nature. I\u2019ve lived near conservation woodlands all my life, where I explored every nook and cranny as a kid. I caught frogs and snakes; tallied the hawks, warblers, and cardinals; and fed birdseed to baby Mallards. I read book after book about whales, dinosaurs, and penguins and devoured episodes of Planet Earth<\/em>. As a Wildwood counselor, I found a place where that nature-loving child in me can return as I sing silly songs, canoe around the perimeter of the pond, bury myself in sand (long story), and search the camp for a stuffed toy raccoon (longer story).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past summer, one of our mid-session overnight camping\ntrips saw temperatures soar to a scorching 100\u00b0F. As a team, the staff proposed\nto the campers that we could avoid the heat by waking up at 3:00 am to climb\nthe mountain and see the sunrise. We were all aware of the challenges involved\nin taking 50 13- and 14-year-olds up a mountain in the dark, but to my\nsurprise, they were game! When the alarm rang in the early morning, my campers\nran over, fully awake and ready to hike. We clambered up the mountain by\nmoonlight and flashlight until a sliver of pink pierced the horizon as we\nascended above the tree line. At the top, we were rewarded with the most\nbeautiful sunrise I\u2019d ever seen. The mist blowing across the valley distorted\nthe sunlight, and we found ourselves inside a giant rainbow. It was a magical\nmoment, and we all felt accomplished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are in unbreakable connection with nature\u2014we inhale what\nplants exhale, our food grows from the soil, and we\u2019re constantly at the mercy\nof natural phenomena. Humans haven\u2019t conquered nature as we like to believe: we\nare<\/em> nature. At this critical time\nwhen the health of our planet is in our hands, camps like Wildwood, which\nfoster that connection in children and teens, are exceedingly special places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dustin
The 2019 Wildwood camp staff took part in a “Chopstick Challenge,” eating every meal (even soup!) with chopsticks. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since first coming to Wildwood for family camp in 2011, I\u2019ve treasured this special place for its community, sanctuary, and opportunities. I\u2019ve spent some of the best weeks of my life at Wildwood, whether as a camper, a trekker, a Leader-in-Training, or a staff member. I\u2019ll be returning this summer for my third year as a counselor, which I see as a way to give back to a community that has given so much to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Dustin Ledgard is studying Composition at Indiana University and will be returning for his 11th summer at Wildwood this year, his third as a counselor. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s Explore member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. In the Spring 2020 issue, we interviewed three counselors from Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp. You can also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":13647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-your-words"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/Dustin-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3y5","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11315,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-melanie-garate\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":0},"title":"In Your Words: Melanie G\u00e1rate","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore\u00a0member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. If you have a story to share about your connection to Mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Melanie G\u00e1rate | Coastal Waterbird Education Specialist","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/IMG_20170712_095614979_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/IMG_20170712_095614979_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/06\/IMG_20170712_095614979_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8258,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-jenny-villone\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":1},"title":"In Your Words: Jenny Villone","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon's\u00a0Explore member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. I\u2019ve been a lover of nature my entire life. Growing up,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jenny Villone at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary's Innermost House","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/10\/JVillone_Innermost_web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/10\/JVillone_Innermost_web.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/10\/JVillone_Innermost_web.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16567,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-nia-keith\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":2},"title":"In Your Words: Nia Keith","author":"Ryan D.","date":"December 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon's Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Nia Keith, Mass Audubon VP for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln. My journey with Mass Audubon has traveled a spiral path. My life and career have taken me to lots of new and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A portrait photo of Nia Keith leaning on a fence in front of a green field with bird boxes in the background. Location: Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/12\/Staff-Headshot-Portraits-Nia-Keith-August-3-2021-Selects-6_750x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/12\/Staff-Headshot-Portraits-Nia-Keith-August-3-2021-Selects-6_750x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/12\/Staff-Headshot-Portraits-Nia-Keith-August-3-2021-Selects-6_750x500.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/12\/Staff-Headshot-Portraits-Nia-Keith-August-3-2021-Selects-6_750x500.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10655,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-eckerson-brothers\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":3},"title":"In Your Words: Eckerson Brothers","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore\u00a0member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. If you have a story to share about your connection to Mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"In Your Words | Eckerson Brothers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9832,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-patricia-spence\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":4},"title":"In Your Words: Patricia Spence","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s Explore member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. My love for exploring nature probably originated from summers spent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Children enjoying the trails at Boston Nature Center","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/dwp_mass-audubon_bns_062717_807_fi-e1506614879924.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/dwp_mass-audubon_bns_062717_807_fi-e1506614879924.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/dwp_mass-audubon_bns_062717_807_fi-e1506614879924.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11617,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-libby-herland\/","url_meta":{"origin":13645,"position":5},"title":"In Your Words: Libby Herland","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore\u00a0member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. If you have a story to share about your connection to Mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Libby","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/Herland-Canoe-Meadows-Photo-1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/Herland-Canoe-Meadows-Photo-1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/Herland-Canoe-Meadows-Photo-1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13645"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13679,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13645\/revisions\/13679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}