Foundations for Recreation: The Fight for the Night

Would you take a boat tour to a tiny, cold, and rocky island that is mostly void of vegetation? In the infamous words of Wayne and Garth, sha, right! But I did leave out one tiny detail. Birds. Atlantic Puffins to be exact. And for this very reason, many people “flock” to Eastern Egg Rock on the coast of Maine.

Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

On a recent visit to Maine, I was convinced to take the three-hour tour for a chance to see the “flying potato!” The tour is led by Audubon guides, which is only fitting because their work saved the Atlantic Puffin. You see, according to our guide, Atlantic Puffins used to be abundant in the Gulf of Maine many years ago. This made them an easy target for food feasts and feather fashion. This once prolific species quickly dwindled, and by 1900, almost disappeared completely from the coast of Maine. The Puffin was hanging on by a herring.

73 years later, Dr. Steven Kress of the Audubon Society made extraordinary efforts to reestablish their breeding colonies on Eastern Egg Rock. The Atlantic Puffin responded (with a little jam from LL Cool J, “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years!”) and today they nest on three different Maine islands!

This story made me wonder about the abundant “natural resources” of today. What are some prolific resources that we that we overuse, or take for granted just like the Atlantic Puffin? My mind originally wandered to oil, but upon experiencing another vast prairie sunset the other night, I connected this thought pattern with the wide-open sky of central Illinois. 30 years ago, I didn’t have too much trouble finding the Big Dipper or Orion in the night sky. I used to take paper and pen and sit outside at my good friend’s lake house to draw my own maps of the milky way. The stars were so abundant I could not count them, but unfortunately, I took the view for granted. I never would have guessed that I would feel lucky just to see the moon bathed in the orange glow of my city’s lights.

Are we just prone to overusing that which is abundant? Does wonder lose its wonder if we experience it every day? How long does it take for us to recognize that we have lost something special?

Maybe we are just prone to losing our way. Literally! Our ancestors used to be able to navigate by the stars. Today, we drive in hunks of metal guided by hunks of metal connected to hunks of metal floating in the earth’s gravitational pull. Just to find a Costco. I wonder if real places can even be found on an app.

Maybe our own spiritual compass has also been dimmed in exchange for a brighter night. I’d be hard pressed to find a religion that does not have some connection to the sky. In Christianity for example, the Messiah had his birth town spotlighted by a star. In the book of Revelation, it is foretold that this same Jesus will triumphantly return out of the sky! Romans, astrologers, Native Americans, and many other religions and philosophers look to the sky for answers as well. To many in history and today, to throw a blanket over the stars of night sky would be akin smothering one’s spirit.

Maybe we’ve also lost our own daily stress reliever. Research has confirmed the benefits (including stress relief) of awe-inspiring experiences (like looking at a star-filled sky) in a number of recent articles. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use a daily dose of wonder in my life.

So, how do we “bring about” the USS Constellation? How can we honor, protect and restore this valuable resource?

Fortunately, the sky might not be made extinct as easily as our animal species (don’t quote me on that one).Consider if you will the International Dark Sky Association. They have created a designation that awards communities and parks on the quality of their night sky. Literally, there are machines to test how many stars are visible on a clear night. Currently, there are no dark sky designations in the central US. “Central” meaning most of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, etc. Enter stage left: the Champaign County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD). CCFPD is currently in the process of applying to be the first park in a very large region to receive the dark sky designation. At Middle Fork River Forest Preserve they’ve updated their lights to emit less light pollution, they’ve offered numerous astronomy-based educational opportunities and they’ve worked with the local astronomy club to offer the public a chance to use powerful telescopes at the preserve. The question at Middle Fork is no longer how can we get back the views of the constellations that we have lost, but rather, how far will people drive to experience this seemingly unencumbered star-studded sky that CCFPD has protected.

So tonight, when you leave your facility or park, look at your lights. Think about how your agency might be a factor in light pollution. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. CCFPD runs a campground at their forest preserve, so obviously, lighting is necessary to their operations and success. Their story proves that lights can still be effective, but not pollutive!

I’m sure you can all remember enjoying the abundance of stars as a kid. Just like the kids of early America who could remember the abundance of birds. It’s not too late. You have the power to restore the sky in your community. You may very well be the next Dr. Steven Kress of our lifetime. No one remembers the millions who destroy, but everyone remembers the one who saves.