The Judas Tree is a collection of poetry that focuses on the act of witnessing tragedy. This collection explores specific events I have observed in both nature and in firefighting. Many of the experiences in the collection were witnessed first-hand. T . . .

Inheritance is a collection of poetry that sets out to redefine the word “inheritance” through three sections. The first section of the collection follows the musical inheritance of the speaker and the impressions of family that have come before him. . . .

This thesis is built on the assumption that in order to be a serious Thoreau scholar, one must move away from Walden (1854) and read his other works. Walden is, to be sure, Thoreau’s most studied book and remains an iconic example of 19th-century Amer . . .

This study focuses on an area within northern California during the nineteenth century. Specifically, the following study provides insight into the early history of Folsom, California. Generally, this work examines the intersection of two different wo . . .

There is a transition in art making when the work shifts from visual replication to something else. Something emerges that is not from the literal; it is from the artist. There is a possibility of limitlessness and creativity as the academic is suffus . . .

The Master of Fine Arts culminating exhibition, Sanctuary: Into the Woods, draws upon two themes, which are my struggle with expectations of feminine beauty and how nature has become my place of sanctuary. As the viewer enters the smaller gallery of t . . .

Limited documentation exists about the therapeutic effects of gardening for Native Americans. Native American individuals who utilized services at local Inter-Tribal Health Center participated in a horticulture group which has been in place since Apri . . .

This thesis explores the role of special places—forts, dens, and hideouts— during middle childhood (ages 6-12). Natural settings have traditionally been children’s special places. Research has demonstrated the importance of outdoor special places in c . . .

Gardening has been known to reduce stress and increase relaxation in people with emotional disturbances, developmental delays, mental illness, sensory integration challenges, and the average gardener alike. Gardening has also been seen at times as a l . . .

The Antelope Valley has long needed a nature study center to serve as a focal point for the development of curriculum in environmental education, conservation and outdoor education. This center serves to train high school students in the presentation . . .