2017 President’s Notes 485 Chewonki Neck Road Wiscasset, Maine 04578-4822 he famed naturalist Roger Tory Peterson popularized Tel: (207) 882-7323 nature study for millions of people with his first book, Fax: (207) 882-4074 Email:
[email protected] A Field Guide to the Birds, which he wrote and illustrated Web: chewonki.org during his years as a staff member at Chewonki. Peterson Chewonki inspires artfully combined the scientific method with a reverence transformative growth, Tfor the natural world. Inspired by his work and that of scores of other teaches appreciation and science educators who have taught at Chewonki over the past 102 years, stewardship of the natural we try, day in and day out, to encourage children and young adults to world, and challenges people observe the world around them, ask good questions, and develop to build thriving, sustainable evidence-based conclusions. communities throughout Nature provides vivid lessons about the importance of getting your their lives. facts straight. A canoe pushed broadside against a rock will flip if the current is too strong. At Chewonki, we ask young people to study the situation, determine what needs to be done, and work with others to design and execute solutions. We encourage them to CONTENTS use judgment tempered by experience and information. They soon realize that ignoring evidence 2 News results in bad outcomes. 6 Susan Feibelman For most of my life, I assumed that scientific principles would play an increasingly more 9 Value of Studying History important role in education and decision-making affecting society as a whole.