That half wistful and half anticipatory time of year has come once again, when summer gradually melts into autumn. For some, it’s a favorite merging of seasons. It also inspires some of us take advantage of spending time outdoors as much as we can before it gets too cold.
The Lititz Public Library has resources that can spark ideas of where to have some outdoor fun. There is also a variety of books recounting nature adventures for only the most daring of souls. Or, if you prefer to just bask in nature, we have some books with breathtaking photography than can bring a taste of the outdoors inside your home.
For Kids
Nature Explorer Bags
New as of this year and perfect for the budding nature scientist in your life, the library now has two nature bags complete with a field guide, bug jar, magnifying glass, compass, binoculars, and other fun tools for making discoveries and taking field notes on outdoor excursions.
“Crinkleroot’s Guide to Giving Back to Nature” by Jim Arnosky
Learn many acts of kindness that will benefit nature year-round from planting grass and butterfly bushes to keeping off sand dunes.
“Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen
A boy spends 54 days alone in the wild after surviving a plane crash in this classic Newbery Honor Book.
For Adults
“The Living Forest: A Visual Journey into the Heart of the Woods” by Joan Maloof with photography by Robert Llewellyn
Get lost in some contemplative nature writing; also, the photography in this book is downright awe-inspiring and complements the prose well, from close-ups of creatures we tend to overlook to shots of trees that have a phantasmal feel.
“Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America’s Forgotten Border” by Porter Fox
Blending history with travel-writing, the author takes a journey (by vehicle, foot or canoe at various intervals) along the northern border of the United States.
“Pennsylvania’s Preserved Lands: Your Guide to Access and Recreation: by Jeffrey F. Williams
Did you know that Pennsylvania has 5 million acres of preserved land? This informative guide can help get you started exploring. Also included are many photographs that celebrate the diversity of Pennsylvania’s natural splendor.
“The Secret Wisdom of Nature: Trees, Animals, and the Extraordinary Balance of All Living Things: Stories from Science and Observation” by Peter Wohlleben
Do you ever take the time to ponder the intricacies of nature and how plants and animals are so dependent on each other? This book offers some intriguing insight on the elaborately interwoven roles of various lifeforms.
“North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail” by Scott Jurek with Jenny Jurek
To run the entire Appalachian Trail in 46 days is a tremendous feat that few would dream to attempt. Ultrarunner Jurek dares to break the speed record for this 2,189-mile trek with his wife alongside him.
“Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed
After having some tragic life experiences, a woman goes on a solo adventure to hike 1,000 miles with no prior experience at the age of 22.
“The Road Headed West: A 6,000-Mile Cycling Odyssey Through North America” By Leon McCarron
One man with a fear of work and a deep hunger for adventure takes a bicycle ride from New York to Seattle with many interesting encounters along the way.
“Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness” by Dr. Qing Li
Learn about improving your health and reducing stress through shinrin-yoku, the Japanese mental practice of spending more time in nature and absorbing your surroundings with all your senses.
“Rail-Trails Pennsylvania: The Definitive Guide to the State’s Top Multiuse Trails” by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Discover 70 rail-trails throughout Pennsylvania and how to get to them, and learn what different recreational activities you can do at various trails.
“A Thinking Person’s Guide to America’s National Parks” ed. by Robert Manning, et.al.
A collection of essays (with hundreds of photographs) by various authors examines the national parks from historical, technological, scientific, and social perspectives.
“Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks” by Mark Woods
A man desires to bring his childhood memories back to life by taking a year to spend more time in nature, but the year he intended to be relaxing takes a sharp turn when his mother is diagnosed with cancer.
Kathryn Raynor
September 11, 2019