In The Nature-Study Idea, Liberty Hyde Bailey articulated the essence of a social movement, led by ordinary public-school teachers, that lifted education out of the classroom and placed it into firsthand contact with the natural world. The aim was simple but revolutionary: sympathy with nature to increase the joy of living and foster stewardship of the earth.
With this definitive edition, John Linstrom reintroduces The Nature-Study Idea as an environmental classic for our time. It provides historical context through a wealth of related writings, and introductory essays relate Bailey’s vision to current work in education and the intersection of climate change and culture. In this period of planetary turmoil, Bailey’s ambition to cultivate wonder (in adults as well as children) and lead readers back into the natural world is more important than ever.
In commemoration of Earth Week 2024, please join us for a panel discussion and celebration of this ground-breaking book with:
- John Linstrom, editor of The Nature-Study Idea and Related Writings, Series Editor of The Liberty Hyde Bailey Library, and Fellow in Climate Humanities and Social Justice at the Climate Museum
- Alexa Maille, panelist – Interim NYS 4-H Youth Development Program Leader for the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Christa Núñez, panelist – Founder and Director of The Learning Farm and of Khuba International, and Doctoral Student in Development Studies at Cornell University
- Scott Peters, panel moderator – Professor of Global Development at Cornell University and coauthor of In the Struggle: Scholars and the Fight against Industrial Agribusiness in California.
This event is co-sponsored by the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the College of Human Ecology, the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Department of Global Development, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, Marvin Pritts, and Mann Library.