children must be taught to revere its majesty.

That's the message Mr. Joseph Cornell wants impressed on the minds of Bermuda's teachers.

And his own life -- he grew up in a small rural town north of Sacramento surrounded by ducks, geese and swamps -- is a testament to the way he thinks nature should be treated.

He created his own course of study called Nature Awareness when he was in university because he lost faith in the ability of International Relations, his first major, to bring calm to a world torn apart by the war in Vietnam.

His new major, combined hard science such as biology in field work settings, with the writings of American Transcendentalist authors Thoreau and Emerson.

After arriving in Bermuda on Friday, he conducted two workshops with teachers on May 27 and 28. His visit was part of the 25th anniversary of Earth Day celebrations.

"We shared creative actions designed to help involve children in more meaningful experiences of nature,'' he said of the weekend workshops. "We learned about animals and plants but the real aim is to help children to have a close personal contact with nature.'' Mr. Cornell said it was important to reach children in their formative years because these were the formative periods where compassion and sensitivity still had their sway.

He said children brought a natural enthusiasm to their nature lessons and as a result, it was easier to mould their attitudes to respect their environment.

"When it comes to environmental issues, it is important to have children experience smaller delights,'' he said. "Because these shape their later outlooks.'' Unfortunately, most school systems, he said, do not emphasise the importance of experience when classes on Biology or nature are taught.

Mr. Cornell, who is the author of the highly acclaimed book Sharing Nature with Children which has been translated into 14 different languages, said he wrote the book to try to get away from the "straight science'' approach to the environment and its problems.

"Children need a prior interest in order to learn. So the activities (in the book) are aimed at creating excitement.'' Additionally, these games teach teamwork, build group spirit, encourage observation and impart a scientific and intuitive appreciation of nature.

"I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the teachers (during the workshops),'' he continued. "They seemed to be in tune with this approach.

They were very eager. I felt that If I gave them the tools they were more than capable of using them.'' NATURE LOVER -- Mr. Joseph Cornell wants to help teachers convey the awesome delights found in nature with their students.