allterrainjohnny

Nature Deficit Disorder

Ever lick a banana slug?

The other day, an All Terrain employee came to tell me all about her weekend.  Instead of heading to the local bar to catch a game or heading to crowded North Avenue Beach, she opted to venture out of the city and get a little fresh air.

Just 1 ½ hrs out of the city, in small Utica, IL, is Starved Rock State Park.  There she hiked along winding nature trails, viewed many overlooks along the Illinois River, and ventured into the little town of Utica.  

On the ride home, diving right back into technology, she came across an article on the NY Times app arguing that young people today have become divorced from nature, and that outdoor summer activities such as bird watching, white water rafting, bouldering, whatever, are heading toward extinction.

And for the record, if you lick the underside of a banana slug, your tongue goes numb.