To define wilderness is a very difficult thing to do. On the one hand nature embodies everything that we observe, construct or even destroy. Everything originates from the earth and thus everything originates from nature. On the other hand nature can be construed as wilderness, a space that is absent of human intervention. It is originality and savagery. It has complete freedom to grow and live in an unimpeded manner separate from artificial construction.<\/p>\n
While I understand and appreciate the first of these definitions it is the latter that I will use in application to Davidson College. Whenever I encounter visitors to this school the most common response that I receive is just how beautiful and natural the campus looks. While I can immediately agree with the beauty comment can the campus truly be described as natural? While the campus itself possesses many areas of trees and open grass they are artificial for they are constantly manicured and sculpted to look beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Nature is not allowed to run its course. The campus is an organized space that lacks savagery and unlimited potential.<\/p>\n
Looking over the maps in the archives room I was struck by how the campus has grown and nature has receded here at Davidson. The maps from the 1960’s showed that the campus was limited to up the hill and everything down the hill was forested area. This area was mostly free from the influence of the grounds keepers and was depicted on the maps simply as swirls of green instead of the carefully drawn trees in the middle of campus. This distinction in how trees are portrayed is a prime example for how untamed the natural is outside of the campus limits. Over time however, the swirls have diminished and greater order has taken over.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite areas of campus is the Imacs. These are the sports fields that sit on the backside of campus. Over my four years at Davidson I have spent countless hours out there playing soccer, baseball and other sports. I love nothing more on a Friday afternoon than starting up a pickup game of soccer. The Imacs along with being a place of fun also represent another unique aspect of campus. For me it is the blurred line where the civilization of campus meets the untamed wilderness that lies outside. The Imacs were a natural area that had been artificially altered to serve our purposes yet sometimes a miss cued shot can lead to a brief encounter with the savagery as one would have to forage for the ball amidst the unforgiving thorns hidden behind the almost useless half fence.<\/p>\n
While physically the Imacs are the boundary with what can be described as true nature, the playing fields also represent a mental transition from proper interactions to a regression into a savage mindset of aggression. Outdoor sports may be one of the few activities that allow us to both walk the line physically and mentally between civilization and nature. Thus whenever I step onto the pitch for soccer practice I am stepping away from civilization and into a purgatory of sorts that provide me perspectives into the two environments on either side of me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To define wilderness is a very difficult thing to do. On the one hand nature embodies everything that we observe, construct or even destroy. Everything originates from the earth and thus everything originates from nature. On the other hand nature can be construed as wilderness, a space that is absent of human intervention. It is … <\/p>\n