My Name is Lilly Folds. I visited the Florida Museum of Natural History on January 11th 2017 with my roommate Shantel Wilson who helped me take photos. I enjoyed visiting the FLMNH because of seeing all of the nature and history in the nature. My favorite wing of the museum that included history was the South Florida: People and Environments. I could relate to the wing because I am from South Florida and we have many parks and nature walks that are oriented around the history and nature of south florida. It was interesting to see this stuff in a museum when I learned it outside when I was younger. The Florida Museum of Natural History was full of interesting facts and artifacts that made me feel closer to the earth.

Nature on Display: The Exhibit on Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land in the museum was fascinating. The exhibit caught my attention by having the fossils on display. When you see the fossils on display it reminds you how big these extinct animals were. The exhibit was centered around the extravagant fossils. Everywhere I looked they had lights beaming down in the center on the fossils. Along with this centerpiece, they had speakers that educated you about certain animals. This exhibit taught me how precious life is and how easy it is to loose a species. My favorite part of this exhibit was the giant sloth fossil. I always loved sloths but never understood how big a giant sloth actually is. My most enjoyable experience at the museum was feeling so close to nature. I read a lot of information from books and videos but in the museum the information was right in front of me to see for myself.

Nature and Ethics: The land was most appreciated by the native americans. Native Americans believed in nature and the balance of the environment. They appreciated nature because they knew it gave them life. Native americans are a great representation of how humans can live like a biotic community. I believe the South Florida: People and Environments exhibit best depicts the humans keeping in touch with nature. The entire museum as a whole really reminds you of how we need to worry about the land more than we do. I think that Leopold really appreciates how the native americans treated the land. The Florida museum of natural history allowed me to appreciate the land the way the Leopold recommends. The fossils in Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land reminded me that animals need the right environment to thrive. One fact in this wing of the museum is that more than 99% of species have gone extinct. This was a wake up call to me and my roommate. It made us realize how we need to live like a biotic community like Leopold says and connect more with nature. We should reduce are footprint on nature. My roommate and I could start by reducing the amount of water we use in the shower. By us making this choice, it will help us continue to change our ways.

Nature and the Human Spirit: I found the Butterfly rainforest to connect me with the mystery and majesty of the world. The butterflies glided so gracefully through the air. Watching the butterflies in this wing of the museum relaxed me. Nowhere other than in a butterfly rainforest can you just be surrounded by these beautiful insects. This helped me take a break from homework and school and just enjoy the beauty of nature. The world is full of beautiful animals that have majestical qualities. Taylor once said "We are all butterflies. Earth is our chrysalis". This quote really brings the majesty to the butterfly and relates it to us. Butterflies go through an amazing transformation that is nothing but pure magic. They are made into these colorful flying butterflies from nothing but a cocoon full of liquid. This makes me really appreciate the wonders that the world has to offer.