I Health & Fitness

Spiritual Moments

Hiking group links Jewish values with the environment.

4

1.K.

x••••••• •

•

Greg Lewis of Ann Arbor takes a break from the hike to read to his son Ian, 21 months, a description of the

Carolyn Grawi, center, of Ann Arbor with Justin Brandt, 7,

variety of species that can be found in the forest.

and Samantha Brandt, 10, and other members of Jewish

Hikers of Michigan.

Robin Schwartz

Columnist

Toby, slathered sun screen on their
children, Ian, 2, and Casey, 4.
"It's an expression of Jewish

values;' added Toby. "It's just
spiritual — the closeness to
God to be outdoors in the envi-

ronment and being a caretaker
of the world?'
"You never know what

Ann Arbor

T

he sun broke through
the lush green leaves,
sending beams of
light into the woods at Parker
Mill County Park in Ann Arbor
Township.
Bright yellow daisies danced
in the breeze and the crisp, clear
water of Fleming Creek babbled
along as 25 Jewish hikers set out
to explore the Hoyt G. Post Trail
on a beautiful August morning.
It was the first excursion of
a new group, Jewish Hikers of
Michigan. The group is spon-
sored by Ann Arbor's Temple
Beth Emeth, but is open to any-
one in the community.
"I just love being outdoors
with the kids',' said hiker Greg
Lewis of Ann Arbor as his wife,

Arlene Dietz and Miriam Shaw, both of Ann Arbor, take a break from the 90-minute hike.

you're going to see," said Abbie
Egherman of Ann Arbor, who
took part in the hike with three
of her children, Joseph, 9; David,
7; and Rosie, 6.
The Temple Beth Emeth
member has a degree in geog-
raphy and said seeing places
appeals to her. "You see a little
bit of wildlife, the wild flowers,
the birds — we just like getting
out and seeing a bit of nature?'
Parker Mill County Park is
the perfect place to do that. A
sign says the 26-acre forest has
60 different species of trees.
The trail the group followed is
a mile-long nature trail along
a boardwalk built through the
woods. Fleming Creek, which
runs near the trail, is said to
be one of Southern Michigan's
coolest and clearest streams.
The hike even took the group
past a log cabin built in 1878.
"I walk just about every day

Moments on page 26

September 28 .2006

25