Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island (Paperback)
'She lets us see the often chaotic and nature-starved modern world through the eyes of our foremost conservation president ...a view that is at once uplifting and provocative, but always fascinating.' Tony Flemming, Geologist and co-author, Geologic Map of the Washington West Quadrangle, Oct 24, 2020Washington D.C. naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley dives into the natural history and beauty of Theodore Roosevelt Island, an island wilderness less than two miles from the White House and a memorial to the United States' foremost conservationist president. In 2016, as the presidential election dealt a body-blow to progressive thinkers in the US, Melanie sought the solace of Theodore Roosevelt Island. In this book she reflects on the inspiring environmental legacy of Roosevelt, and how immersing oneself in nature can help to heal, restore and encourage a person, even in the midst of the strange new reality of a divisive occupant in the White House. Melanie leads the reader along walks and kayak trips around the island, as together with other Washingtonian nature lovers, birders, conservationists, and even descendants of Roosevelt, they find solace in the island's natural wonders, and ponder their nation's future. Includes a foreword by Tom Lovejoy, Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation.
Melanie Choukas-Bradley is an award-winning naturalist writer, teacher and certified forest therapy guide. She has written several books, as well as op-eds for publications including the Washington Post. She leads natural history tours and forest bathing walks for Smithsonian Associates, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Naturalist Society, Friends of Theodore Roosevelt Island and many other organizations. Her forest bathing walks have been featured on NPR, the Travel Channel, in the National Parks Magazine and at marthastewart.com. Melanie regularly features on podcasts, radio and television programs. She lives in Washington DC, USA.