I’m sitting on a tilted piece of wood, my feet in the mud and the afternoon sun shining on my face through the tall trees surrounding us. It’s a gorgeous clear day after a long rain and the air smells fresh and clean. I feel my friend’s body shake gently as she lets out a true laugh, and passes the deep blue bong to another friend. I can hear the birds chirping and the leaves rustle in the light breeze. I breath in deeply and feel my body relax. This place is my home.

This place is the Sehome Hill Arboretum or “Arb” for short. The Arboretum, located next to the Western Washington University campus, is a relatively small yet beautiful forest that has many hiking trails, benches, and places to explore. There are people in the arb at all times of day and night, participating in various activities or walking solo. For example, on my walk in the arb yesterday, I saw a woman walking her dog, ran into three different friends, and saw a man going for a jog. What this means to me is that the arb is an important place to many people and is always full of life and constant energy.

One of the reasons could be that the Arb provides a safe haven for students- it’s a place free of judgement. The fact that people feel safe in the arb allows for experimentation. Since people feel comfortable, they are more inclined to open up and try or talk about new things. People can have conversations about everything and anything without the pressure of professors and the classroom setting. For example, if there’s a group of students hanging out and smoking in the Arb, and their professor jogs past them, the professor wouldn’t say anything to the students and vice versa. They would just let each other continue on with their lives. The Arb allows for that kind of environment, and it wouldn’t be that way if a professor saw students smoking in a place like Red Square.

Another reason could be that the Arb is a kind of church or temple for some students where they can gather and participate in activities that are almost like religious experiences. Students go there for morning hikes, full moon walks, late night smokes, or group meditation and yoga- These are the practices that our generation of flower children live by. It’s a spiritual playground where people can explore until their legs give out.

These activities have become rituals for many students, myself included. The fact that they’re ritualized gives them value. Our group meditations and hikes wouldn’t be the same anywhere else. It’s the feeling of the arboretum that makes the activities possible and meaningful for us.

The arboretum isn’t just important because of it’s physical existence, it’s the experiences and activities that happen there that give it it’s meaning and importance in this community. Staeheli discusses this concept in her writing by saying “both compositional and contextual effects are important, and that place mediates between individuals, social groups, and broader political structures.” The arboretum changes with the different college social groups and locals that are there. For example,if I go to the arboretum on a Saturday night, there are sometimes people from other parts of campus being loud and partying, but if I go for a walk on a Sunday morning, there are usually mellow hikers and meditating students. The feel of the arboretum is constantly changing and it has to do with the people who are existing there.

Another thing that makes the aboretum the arboretum is the accessability of it. If the Arboretum was far from campus, students wouldn’t spend as much of their time there. It’s the fact that it’s right next to the Western Washington University’s campus that allows for students to explore the arb and gain a different kind of knowledge there. This knowledge is different than classroom taught knowledge, but is just as educational.

For example, the arb provides a great space for students to learn how to take care of their body and mind. In college, it’s difficult for students to find time to take care of themselves both physically and mentally. The Arb is a great place to clear the mind after a long day of classes and take a momemnt for self-care. I have participated in many meditations in the Arb, some solo and some with other people. Meditation is a great way to help students be more stable and focused, and there is no better place to meditate than in nature. People can learn a lot about themselves by meditating, which can be even more valuable than some things learned in a classroom. Exploring oneself is often not viewed as being an important part of education, but knowing your mind and your body is crucial for a balanced life as a student.

Some people would say that Arb has a negative reputation since students often go there to smoke weed, which can be seen as a type of delinquent activity. I understand why people would think it’s a problem for students to participate in drug related activities, and I respect that opinion. However, from what I’ve seen in the Arb, it can be a unique learning experience. When students smoke in the Arb, often times they end up having deep thought provoking conversations about religion, humanity, the meaning of life, etc. These conversations give students a safe space to discuss important issues with eachother and gain new perspectives. These opporutnities and discussion are an important part of growing as people during college.

There is so much to be learned in the Sehome Hill Arboretum, and I hope that if you live near Bellingham, one day you can explore it and help experience the safe place that it is. I am so grateful for the opportuniy to spend my time in this forest with other students and Bellingham locals and the lessons I have learned there have changed me and other student’s lives forever.