New Nature’s Writers Trail on Campus Celebrates Authors Who Inspire Faculty and Influence Teaching about Nature

The new Nature’s Writers Trail at Ferrum College is officially open after a November 17 ribbon cutting ceremony. The Nature’s Writers Trail is an interpretive trail installation near Chapman Pond on campus. Sponsored by the Ecotourism and Recreation Leadership programs and involving Ferrum College faculty from English, Environmental Science, Biology, and Art, the trail took eight years to complete.

The trail—dedicated in memory of Faculty Emerita of Environmental Science Carolyn Lee Thomas, who passed away in January 2020—is demarcated by signs featuring quotes selected by 12 faculty from 12 authors who were inspirational to Ferrum faculty and influenced their thinking and teaching about nature. Designed by Assistant Professor of Art Jake Smith, each sign focuses on one author and contains a QR code that directs people to a library resource page dedicated to the project.

Several generations of Recreation Leadership students also contributed to the development of the trail layout and installation. The project was a focal point of REC 413 Recreation Facilities last fall, with the final posts going in over fall break.