<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Blind Naturalist]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Blind Naturalist]]></description><link>https://warrek29.wixsite.com/the-blind-naturalist/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:53:47 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.shannoncolumb.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Life’s a Muddy Trail]]></title><description><![CDATA[It’s what we’ve all heard before. The unpredictability of life. How plans aren’t guaranteed. Trails are like that too.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/life-s-a-muddy-trail</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6872c08ab296b7066774cffd</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Dec 2024 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_a2b2080231f047dc84c63f4853f8c2d5~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_300,h_157,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Day in South Dakota]]></title><description><![CDATA[What comes to mind when you think of South Dakota? For me, it was endless farmland, Mount Rushmore, and the ...]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/a-day-in-south-dakota</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6872c3fbac041791c78b2efb</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2022 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_35eff09e61444ec892883b09a87dae2b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_816,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Familiar Routes Become Foreign]]></title><description><![CDATA[Walks, whether to the bus stop, down a nature trail, or through my neighborhood, have taught me how to adapt. With vision loss, even the most familiar places and routes can lose familiarity.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/when-familiar-routes-become-foreign</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741b6cb73c7627a2d3e868</guid><pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_a56c25f57c864b4cb349a078712c374c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_813,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advocating for Accessibility: Potawatomi Tower’s Unresolved Future]]></title><description><![CDATA[From Leader Dogs for the Blind fundraising events to environmental education conferences, my voice was appreciated. I’m not sure if this was the case for a recent public meeting I attended. My voice opposed the majority opinion.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/advocating-for-accessibility-potawatomi-tower-s-unresolved-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741c46577d2dc4b4e466e4</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_9ee585f55a934bb6b6efb31984adb4de~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_816,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Weeks in Europe With a Guide Dog: The Power of Four Paws]]></title><description><![CDATA[Guide dogs do more than give people with vision loss independence. They give us company, routine, and unconditional love. No matter where we are in the world. They allow us to tell stories like this one.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/5-weeks-in-europe-with-a-guide-dog-the-power-of-four-paws</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6874181b97051c9503198e5d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_93e4ddb84085443391b489213977f0d7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_819,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Weeks in Europe with a Guide Dog: Finding Purpose in Poland]]></title><description><![CDATA[My experience traveling abroad wouldn’t have been the same without Frasier. I would of depended more on others and my white cane. During our five weeks abroad, Frasier proved how capable he was of adapting to new situations and environments, every day. He gave me so much independence and support throughout this time away from familiarity.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/5-weeks-in-europe-with-a-guide-dog-finding-purpose-in-poland</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741d6cb73c7627a2d3edf2</guid><pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_a366646967f54ff8a858e1f250319650~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_818,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Backpacking Blind on Isle Royale – Part 1: The Blisters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Blisters. They’re bound to happen whether you overestimate how much to break in your new shoes, or if you’re walking or running for a...]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/backpacking-blind-on-isle-royale-part-1-the-blisters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741a8549b18336a6024a68</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_d04519c8a73c47eeaabc57073e001a47~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_814,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Staying Active in Winter with Vision Loss: 5 Winter Recreation Activities]]></title><description><![CDATA[The winter months can be daunting for those with vision loss, myself included. Navigating slippery sidewalks, over unplowed curb cuts, and through frozen slush in the cold is really, not appealing. The blinding glare of snow, not pleasant.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/staying-active-in-winter-with-vision-loss-5-winter-recreation-activities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6874193f97051c95031991bf</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_11dfdc3e3c4a4f27b2f827517651216b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_820,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Backpacking Blind on Isle Royale – Part 2: Rose, Thorn, Bud]]></title><description><![CDATA[Backpacking can be a transformative experience, but so can everyday experiences. Self-growth doesn’t need to happen out in the wilderness. We all face adversity and learn about ourselves in diverse ways, but through connecting with ourselves and others, we can do more than we thought possible.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/backpacking-blind-on-isle-royale-part-2-rose-thorn-bud</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741e6e49b18336a6025582</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_b388079e61a64b02a42e440b72b7f83a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_819,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Four Pawed Trail Guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Building trust in someone or something is a journey. Like any journey, it takes time, courage, and an open mind. Like any journey, it’s different for everyone. Trusting someone with your safety as you travel through your everyday life, in familiar and unfamiliar places, may seem difficult at first – especially when the one you’re trusting has four paws and a wet nose.]]></description><link>https://www.shannoncolumb.com/post/my-four-pawed-trail-guide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68741f26b73c7627a2d3f2e8</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4769f8_81664e395c034cdfbac9b579b8fb9483~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_799,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>