Who am I?
I'm Rob Garman and nobody special.
They call me Ziggy Trek in some circles (just a trail name). I'm an ordinary guy with an ordinary job.
I have
no nature-related credentials to boast of.
I just like experiencing and learning about nature. I love sharing what I discover with friends and family. It's
just that my definition for "friends" has evolved to include YOU and my other neighbors in Central Pennsylvania.
Why
am I doing this?
In a nutshell, I'm doing my small part to fight
NDD -- Nature Deficit Disorder.
Suppose that I found a secret mine with endless
tunnels of treasure. Do I selfishly keep it to myself or let others know about it? Even if I was selfish, the benefits
of connecting to nature are endless -- so why not spread the wealth?
If I
believe that God created an amazing natural world with beauty, fun, joy and healing designed into it -- then I'm obligated
to help others re-connect to these gifts intended for mankind. Mabey you could call it an onus of ministry.
How do I connect to nature?
I like to backpack and get out into the wilderness. Then there is more.
It all sort of exploded when I was seeking more information about my hobby. Since then I started a Naturalist &
Tracker course called Kamana. I like to learn about survival skills, medicinal & edible plants, birds, animals, forest
invisibility, gardening, dehydrating trail meals, sewing or making my own backpacking gear, aid-less navigation... and
most of all,
sharing all of this with others!
How do I help
others connect?
Aside from creating this website... I share nature with those in my immediate world.
I am also a member of local organizations and plan to develop a series of nature awareness hikes for Kids and teens this summer.
I seek any education or knowledge that will enhance my ability to share nature:
I hold certifications
in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. I read and read and learn and learn. The real learning comes from time with nature.
Way back in my military days; I was trained in Arctic, Jungle and Open Ocean Survival. Also, I was trained in Escape
& Evasion and had P.O.W. Resistance Training. All of that and four dollars may get me a Double-Espresso. But I try
to remember what I can and use it only for peaceful purposes from now on.
How did it
come to this?
There was a dramatic shift in my life as I began to take the simple hobby of backpacking to a deeper level. My spiritual,
mental, physical and emotional health drastically began to alter for the better. Connecting with nature was fun, enjoyable
and edifying.
I introduced a few teens and
my grandkids to the outdoors. No mater what age, the reactions were profound. Witnessing the sense of wonder &
discovery is addictive!
Then
I stumbled across a book called, "Last Child in the Woods", by Richard Louv. It explained and validated many thoughts
I had pondered concerning my personal experiences. It became more than just a hobby.
It simply makes good sense. Getting individuals, families, organizations and agencies
to establish a meaningful awareness and connection to nature can change our future. Look around at where our current
mindsets, dogma and "modern ideas" have taken us!
Rob Garman's Profile
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