Make Sure It’s Fun by Aileen Kearney

We walk into the lush backyard of Elizabeth Wood’s home in Roundup, Montana. Sunlight filters through the tall trees that surround the area, making it feel like we are in our own little world. The heat of the midmorning sun tells us that summer has indeed arrived. Seven of us, five students and two instructors, shuffle our bikes through the worn fence door, weighed down by the many pounds of gear that we’ve packed neatly into our colorful panniers which we will live out of for the next few weeks. I hear my classmates gasp as they see the treats Elizabeth has provided for us. At this point we are far enough into the course that the novelty of tuna packets and oatmeal has worn off, so the muffins, tangerines, coffee, and juice make the finest of feasts for us. Elizabeth comes out of her home and greets us warmly, inviting us to sit in the cozy circle she has created in the yard.

Elizabeth Wood is a co-founder of Montana’s Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) and one of the creators and co-directors of AERO’s New Western Energy Show. The New Western Energy Show was a traveling show that toured all across Montana in 1976 with the goal of educating Montanans on renewable energy. At a time when renewable energy was just beginning to gain modern popularity, the troupe came together– some from across the country– enthusiastic and eager to spread the word. They used humor to connect with people all over Montana on renewables.

The idea of laughter and joy is central to the message that Elizabeth shares with us as we listen intently to her stories, knowledge, and wisdom. Above all, Elizabeth reminds us to “Make sure it’s fun” and that “No matter what the good work is, how important it is, make sure you’re surrounded by people who support you.” It sounds like simple advice, but really, it’s profound in a lot of ways. As we biked away from Roundup towards our next stop, I thought deeply about this idea of fun. I tried to remember a time in the last three years of my college career where someone told me to have fun, and I drew a blank. In the rush of our ever growing and changing society, fun can often be lost. As students, we focus intently on the next big thing; turning in an essay, passing a class, getting our degree, we forget to have fun along the way. That’s what has been the most impactful part of my WRFI Cycle the Rockies course thus far, the fun.

What’s more, fighting to protect the environment is an exhausting task at times. We’ve seen that in the many guest speakers who have shared the hard work they are doing in regenerative ranching, high performance green building, the food industry, advocacy, writing, and lobbying. It is not easy. People often see environmental work as a never ending battle, and burnout is not uncommon in this field. However, Elizabeth Wood showed us that morning in her backyard that fun and joy are tools we can use to keep going in the face of inevitable challenges. Many of the people we have talked with have echoed the same sentiment, sharing that passion is what keeps them coming back. Joy connects us to each other and to the land. It reminds us of the importance of reciprocal relationships with the world around us and how deeply connected everything is. Scientist, professor, and writer Robin Wall Kimmerer writes in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, “Each person, human or no, is bound to every other in a reciprocal relationship. Just as all beings have a duty to me, I have a duty to them. If an animal gives its life to feed me, I am in turn bound to support its life. If I receive a stream’s gift of pure water, then I am responsible for returning a gift in kind.”

As students, we have found many moments of joy along the way. We laugh together at our jokes, share moments of quiet as we watch the sun peacefully set, explore new places, learn about grasslands, discuss renewable energy, and encourage each other when we ride into tough headwinds. Tackling climate change feels daunting, but as I reflect on Elizabeth Wood’s words, I remember that there are actions we can take every day to ground ourselves in responsibility and joy to people and place. I remind myself to “Make sure it’s fun” and find joy when it gets hard. I encourage you to do the same.