Get Out: Wind Walking

Walking with the wind can be exciting and challenging in the spring. Windy days wake us up and ask us to pay attention to the world around us, and our own bodies. A high wind in spring brings us new smells and says, "Things are changing right now, watch!"  Wind has the power to change things quickly. Wind makes us think about our place in the world and reminds us that nature has force.

So button up, take a walk and head into the wind. Before you go, consider a few questions:

Why is spring such a windy time of year?

Why do we have wind?

What good is the wind to me?

What does the wind do for the earth?

When you return from wind walking, take of your coat, blow your nose, comb your hair and reflect.  Here's a little background-- useful for discussion with friends:

What makes wind?

Shore answer:  the sun.

What's up with the sun this time of year? Well, in our hemisphere--our side of the planet--we are tipping back toward the big guy and things are beginning to heat up. The earth is an interesting place, and it is definitely not uniform. As sunlight hits the earth, it warms up at different rates. Land warms up faster than water. As that land warms up, air molecules start moving around-- they like to move up as they warm up. Up they go, and the cool air still hanging around out over bodies of water rushes in to fill up that empty space-- and, voila! Wind!  Molecules on the move.

So, it's spring and it's windy. So what? Have you thought about the role of wind in your life? What does wind do for you?

Sometimes, wind is a pain in the tush-- especially when we get those big temperature swings and severe weather results. High winds are destructive, knocking down forests, or houses. Big winds of early spring usually knock all the dead branches out of the trees in my yard, and throw the last old leaves on the lawn. That's a big mess. Wind pushes pollen into my face and my spring allergies kick in. Wind can drive spring rain down in torrents, creating mud puddles, slowing my commute and soaking me to the bone. But take a closer look:

What if the wind didn't knock those dead branches out of my trees, or throw those leaves around?

What if the wind didn't shake pollen out of spring flowers?

What if the wind didn't push the rain so hard?

Dead wood is is something a tree is happy to be shed come spring. Trees need to maximize sunlight and water and put out new growth, they can't waste real estate on stuff that doesn't work and gets in the way. We don't like leaves on our pretty lawns, but in wild nature, fallen leaves insulate tree roots, provide habitat for all kinds of animals, and feed plants as they rot. Rotting leaves even act like mulch, keeping some invasive plants out of the under story in the forest.

Even those big blow downs-- like the one that happened in the BWCA in 1999--are essential to forest health. All that dead wood becomes excellent kindling for forest fires. And forest fires, even though they can threaten our property are a really important part of keeping a forest alive. Some tree seeds don't pollinate without fire, and fire clears the way and fertilizes the soil for strong new plants and trees to grow. Some animals, like moose, thrive on the plants and trees that grow only after fire.

If wind doesn't blow pollen around my neighborhood, plants and trees can have a hard time breeding-- wind pollination is even more important than bee and insect pollination in some parts of the world.

Wind and rain are an excellent way to get water where it needs to go to grow things. Without wind, rain might not reach all the sleeping seeds it needs to soak or quench the thirst of trees so well. Wind pushes water faster into watersheds, flushing fresh water into our streams, rivers and ponds. Some fish and water critters need fast moving water to get to where they need to go. And if you have pollen allergies, wind and rain wash pollen out of your environment.

While you might not chat about all of this with young friends, getting outside for wind walking can wake them up to some big questions, and that's the best part. Questions are the place where answers start. "I don't know, but let's see if we can find out..."

Ideas for Wind Inquiry:

• Fly a kite
• Fly paper airplanes
• Float leaves, scarves, fabric or ribbons on the wind
• Capes are fun in the wind-- tie on fabric or sheets for impromptu super accessories 
• Hang sheets or curtains from a clothesline-- the youngest enjoy playing with the snapping fabric
• Tie colorful ribbon to fences, posts or trees and watch what happens
• Make a flag and fly it--fabric tied to a stick works just fine
• Turn your head into and out of the wind, notice how the wind affects you (pay attention to your ears)
• Record the wind on your cell-- the youngest will enjoy playing back the sound effects
• Watch birds like turkey vultures soar
• Visit a lake and watch, feel and listen to the wind push water (cover your eyes and then your ears)

For more wind deets check out this article.