Reading Rock Point

A reflection on one year teaching the story of this place.

Tyler Pastorok, Rock Point Land Steward & Programs Coordinator

When we opened registration for the first round of Reading Rock Point last year, the curriculum was just a rough outline. I knew what topics I wanted us to cover, but many of the details still had to be discovered and woven together. We accepted 15 sign-ups on faith in the abundance of stories that Rock Point holds, and the magic of gathering curious minds together to learn them. Over the following 8 months as the class and seasons unfolded, the curriculum was built one session at a time. In the weeks before each class, I immersed myself in study of each topic with the ultimate objective of inspiring awe, curiosity, and connection with the creatures and places we would meet.

Looking back on the first year, I think that the beauty of the class was not the knowledge imparted, but the ways we learned, together, to relate to the land and all its inhabitants through the stories. Geological stories and human history helped us wrap our minds around deep time and our tiny place in the larger story of earth. Learning to identify trees taught us about the conditions they like and the vibrant lives they live in relationship with other species. Using our knowledge of geology and trees, we could then read the patterns in the landscape. Cues from the trees or rocks gave us information about what plants or wildlife to expect there, or even what might have happened to a landscape many years ago. Uncovering the stories in animal tracks and sign gave us a window into the lives and personalities of Rock Point’s furry creatures.

But the greatest gift of all, for me, was the friendships formed and the joy shared throughout our 8 months together. Not only did spreading our meetings throughout the year let us see all the seasons, it gave us time to solidify the connections we made with each other and form a community. Though the course is framed as me bringing lessons to share, everyone in the class brought some form of prior knowledge and relationship to the land that enriched the learning for all of us. With the next round of Reading Rock Point beginning in just a few weeks, and the land unfurling in the Spring sunshine, I'm so excited to share this journey again with a group of new friends. If you're interested in joining, there are still spots available! Check out the link below.

Reading Rock Point's First Cohort

Some thoughts from this past year's Reading Rock Point cohort:

“Reading Rock Point’s field days brought Vermont’s landscape into focus from many different perspectives. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to look at elements of ecological communities from the micro to the community level and also to learn about human impacts, both historical and current. I especially cherished the chance to visit Rock Point’s famous thrust fault with a group that approached the site with both scientific interest and wonder. Tyler was always prepared with activities, study guides, and thoughtful commentary. He generously shared his references and source documents to foster further study. Tyler’s teaching style encouraged students to work together to think through the questions he posed, which helped us get to know each other and share skill sets. I think this class is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to learn more about nature or expand their knowledge of Vermont’s natural systems.”

“This was such a fun and engaging class that left me with a deeper appreciation for rock point and the long living history of the land here and beyond. Not only can I identify more trees and wildflowers, but I have more ways of looking at them and the whole natural community that I feel expands my ability to keep growing and learning.”

Reading Rock Point is designed to give you a basic framework and skillset for reading and connecting with landscapes around Vermont and beyond. We will cover geology, plant and tree identification, human history, wildlife tracking, and how to piece these together into a story of a place. Our story will begin over 500 million years ago when "Vermont" was a tropical ocean floor, and we'll see how this bedrock story gives way to the mosaic of natural communities we see around the state. Each plant, tree, animal, and rock we identify comes with its own story and invitation to engage our senses and connect deeper with a place and those that inhabit it.

Sign up for this year's class here.