Noticing the Natural World | Poetry, Curiosity, and Environmental Education with Aimee Nezhukumatathil

What does it mean to really notice the world around us?In this episode of The World We Want, host Gerry Ellis speaks with poet and nature writer Aimee Nezhukumatathil about curiosity, attention, and the role that observation plays in environmental education and our relationship with the natural world.Aimee’s work explores the connections between poetry, science, nature, and memory, and how naming plants, animals, and landscapes helps us build a deeper connection to the places where we live. Her latest book, Night Owl, looks at the natural world after dark and invites readers to slow down, listen, and rediscover a sense of wonder and curiosity about the living world around them.This conversation explores the quiet heart of environmental education—not just learning facts about the environment, but learning how to pay attention, how to ask questions, and how to remain curious about the world throughout our lives.We talk about nature writing, teaching, curiosity, naming species, childhood wonder, and how observation can lead to care, connection, and lifelong learning.This episode is about noticing, curiosity, poetry, and our shared relationship with the living world. Learn more about Aimee and find relevant resources for educators on our website >Send us your thoughts! > The World We Want: The NAAEE Podcast is an educational outreach project of the North American Association for Environmental Education., in partnership with nonprofit GLOBIO. Find us on:Instagram: @thenaaeeFacebook: @THENAAEELinkedIn: @NAAEEYouTube: @thenaaee orEmail us at: [email protected] for listening, and thanks for sharing The World We Want!