Legendary Learning

The future wilderness photographer, Ansel Adams, was an active, curious child who loved to be outdoors running around.  His family lived in a sturdy home above the sand dunes outside of San Francisco.  It was a great place for a hyperactive little boy to grow up – exploring the beaches and nearby Lobos Creek, inspecting everything and collecting insect specimens.

In his autobiography, Ansel had nothing good to say about his early education in dismal institutional settings.  It was depressing, dirty and uninspiring.  He thought the act of memorizing irrelevant facts (such as which states border Nebraska) was useless, saying “Education without either meaning or excitement is impossible.”  One of his teachers, hoping to cure his restless tendencies, would invite him to her house periodically to lecture him on proper behavior.  But all he could think about was getting outdoors.  Finally, when he was twelve he became so bored that one day he simply burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.  The principal escorted him home for a week’s suspension. (more…)

One of our most charismatic presidents, Teddy Roosevelt started life as a small, frail and thoughtful little boy. He struggled with asthma but loved to be outdoors. Summers in the country were filled with horseback riding, swimming, running and collecting nature specimens.

Theodore Roosevelt Sr., christened “Greatheart” by his children, built a family gymnasium so that young Teddy might improve his physical condition – which he did. Aware of his weaknesses, the boy was determined to get stronger. He exercised faithfully, took wrestling and boxing lessons and learned about nutrition. Eventually he grew sturdy enough to go on extended backpacking and hunting trips as a teenager, and continued to emphasize vigorous physical activity throughout his life.

The young future president seemed to approach every undertaking with gusto. He filled notebooks with drawings and written descriptions of ants, spiders, beetles, dragonflies, mice and birds. When the family traveled to Europe, he kept a detailed diary of all the museums, sites and natural wonders they visited.

Teddy’s wealthy aristocratic family lived close by the rest of the Roosevelt clan in New York. His only playmates were siblings, cousins and children of old family friends. But it was a happy childhood. In addition to an adoring Grandmother, Teddy had aunts and uncles to dote on him. Every morning, “Greatheart” would say morning prayers with the children on the sofa. He taught them to ride horses, climb trees and care about social issues. When their philanthropist father invited interesting people such as John Hay and Matthew Arnold over for dinner, the children were encouraged to pay attention to the conversation. (more…)