Biocitizen is so pleased to welcome Marysia Borucinska-Begg to the Our Place Summer School senior staff!
Marysia has just returned from the Magallenic region of Chile where she was part of a cohort taking on interdisciplinary research projects with the support of the University of Northern Texas and a National Science Foundation grant. Integral to this trip was assessing valuation of species in the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in Puerto Williams, and other public-protected areas of Southern Chile. She was lucky enough to explore the incredibly biodiverse protected areas and alcoves of Isla Navarino, as well as interact with the community and perseverant Indigenous Yagán presence. Originally hailing from the woods of Northeastern Connecticut, she is now finishing up double majors in Political Science and Environmental Studies and a minor in Ecology at UConn. From teaching children from her community about composting in the community garden, to swim lessons over the summer, and time spent outdoors with her own partially deaf/blind niece, she hopes to continue a journey of helping youth find intimate connections to the spaces they inhabit — no matter their obstacles, fears, or backgrounds.
Personal Statement
I grew up in the valley. A bend of the Fenton River caresses my front yard, the Nipmuck trail seen through the kitchen window beckons my nearly daily return to it. But really, this home isn’t just mine. I’ve seen water levels drop due to increased sourcing of the river by a growing university town population. I watched the fish who nibbled my toes grow smaller. It was alive and changing with me.
For better or worse, this home is ours: this was instilled in me by curiosity through constant exposure to the outdoors, but also via alternative conditioning to recognize my environment as more than a backdrop to life. I was reminded quite early on by my family, friends, and mentors the value of this place. Books narrating the Indigenous Nipmuc Nation’s history that took place in these very woods, mushroom ID field guides, and naturalist essays line our home’s bookshelves. Even when I think I am done learning, I know I am not — visiting new spaces, hearing about new dynamics between people and their habitat shows me new nightmares or standards on how to interact with the valley when I return. It makes me more interested in the deep time my home has evolved through and from.
I learned of Bio-Citizen when I was blessed to help hike a section of the Dientes de Navarino trail in Chile this last winter with Vicente Aguirre Diez and Jesse Carmichael, heads of the Chilean and LA branches, respectively. Being familiar with the rolling ledges of the Berkshires thanks to family backpacking vacations, I am very excited to learn alongside these kids about a beautiful nook of New England and its biocultural history. A picture of me on Cerra Bandera above the Beagle Channel with Vicente Aguirre Diez, Director of Biocitizen Chile.
Excellent news! Marysia will certainly instill her knowledge, experience and deep enthusiasm in whoever she guides. Having Jesse and Vicente as mentors is a true privilege. Congratulations Marysia
WHAT IS BIOCITIZEN? The word “biocitizen” is a contraction of “biotic citizen,” a term and idea conceived by Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) who is widely celebrated for conceiving the “land ethic.” A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. A […]
Charlie is a recent graduate from Wesleyan University who is just beginning to get his footing in the big wide world and figure out where he’s going. Although he majored in music, his studies always seemed to circle around environmentalism and the more-than-human world, a cross pollination which began the summer after his freshman year […]
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Biocitizen is so pleased to welcome Charlie Schine as a lead teacher! Charlie is a Brooklyn native and presently teaches Field Environmental Philosophy at our Western Massachusetts school. He can’t wait to walk with students through the places loves the most. Personal Statement Hi! I’m a recent graduate from Wesleyan University and although I majored […]
Job Opening: Our Place Summer School Director, New York City Status: 40 (full-time) hours a week (June 29-July 3, July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31, August 24-28, 2020); training begins January 2020 Time Frame: Review begins now, position open until filled. Biocitizen Inc. is a nonprofit educational institution that specializes in Field Environmental […]
En la sabiduría antigua, tanto en sociedades orientales, occidentales e indígenas, existe como concepción compartida la importancia del vivir el día a día, y de como esta práctica da forma […]
Excellent news! Marysia will certainly instill her knowledge, experience and deep enthusiasm in whoever she guides. Having Jesse and Vicente as mentors is a true privilege. Congratulations Marysia