A pond in the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham Township at 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 9.
Photo Credit: Kristen Pakonis

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny, few clouds

An intense sense of peace settles inside of me each time I walk out to the pond here at the Swamp. As I sit and take it all in, I forget that there’s a world away from this place.

The sun is strong today, which I’m soaking in before it fades away. The mosquitoes are busy buzzing around and sampling my blood, and I selfishly wish there were more hungry bats or frogs nearby looking for a meal. But even the mosquitoes won’t keep me away from sitting with nature. I just push down the sleeves on my sweatshirt and look out across the water.