United States of America Scoping: Well, you don't see these every day

June 5, 2021

What's an animal that's really common where you're from, but seems to be a rare delight to out-of-towners? For me, it's deer. Growing up in Maryland, you couldn't spit without hitting a deer. An entire herd used to stroll through our backyard every morning, as if they owned the place. But I can't count the number of times out-of-state guests would point and gasp upon their arrival. "Deer!" they'd say. "... And?" we'd reply. Australians, I can imagine, are quite used to both kangaroos and non-Australians making a fuss about kangaroos. And Canadians? I know y'all have some interesting creatures roaming around up there. It's all about perspective. One person's run-of-the-mill sighting of iguana, javelina or black squirrel could be the highlight of someone else's day.

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Birding without boundaries
Since 2015, Virginia Rose has been helping mobility-challenged people like her participate joyfully in her favorite pastime: birding. Rose says there's something deeply satisfying about being engrossed in nature, appreciating the present, and searching out feathered beauties that leads her to pick up her binoculars time after time. But navigating trails with a manual wheelchair can be nearly impossible. So she founded "Birdability," a non-profit group that helps people find birding locations that fit their needs. So far, the group has mapped out more than 500 birding sites along with their accessibility scores, both in the US and a few internationally. Anyone can access their interactive trail map, and Birdability members can even become captains to help lead inclusive excursions. That's the other beautiful part of Birdability: connecting people so they can nerd out about birds, together.

The shoes off his feet

Who wouldn't want to walk across their graduation stage wearing a pair of black leather Alexander McQueen shoes? Daverius Peters showed up to his high school graduation in Boutte, Louisiana, intending to do just that, but he was told by a faculty member that his shoes violated the graduation dress code. Flummoxed, he told another teacher, John Butler, who had mentored him on several occasions. Butler tried to clear up the situation, but the other faculty member wouldn't budge. So Butler did the first thing he thought of: He slipped off his own shoes for Peters to wear. Then, he watched, barefoot and proud, as Peters got his diploma. Butler's selfless act is an example of how important compassion can be when someone's in an unjust situation. "You don't stop a kid from receiving his high school diploma … for something as small as shoes," he says. The school says they're reviewing their graduation dress code and will strive to be more inclusive.

Love shines like a diamond mine
Now this is a love song in the making! Christian Liden of Washington state had always fantasized about mining his own gems for an engagement ring when he finally met that special someone. A while ago, he realized he had the girl, but no clue how to execute his mining plan. Then a coworker told him about Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, where people often find valuable gems. The plan was finally set. Liden built some mining equipment on the sly and set out with a buddy on a normal road trip (*wink*) to track down a rock. It only took two days in the park for him to strike gold — well, diamonds. With his hands shaking, Liden uncovered a gorgeous 2.2 carat yellow diamond. The gem is the largest that's been found at the park in months. As if that wasn't romantic enough, Liden proposed to his girlfriend Desirae with the luminous hand-mined diamond while on a mushroom hunt. Gentlemen, the bar has officially been raised.

A round of applause for ...

Chase Poust, a 7-year-old who's being hailed a hero after he swam ashore to get help when his sister and dad got swept away by a strong current. Chase and his 4-year-old sister Abigail ended up a rapid rush of water while swimming in the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. Their father, Steven Poust, jumped in to try and help them, but it became clear he couldn't reach them both. As he swam for Abigail, he told Chase to swim to shore and find help. It took Chase an hour to battle the rough water, and then he ran to the nearest house for help. By the time rescue crews reached his sister and father, they had drifted a mile and a half to two miles away. But they were safe, thanks to Chase's valiant efforts.

You gotta see this

If you've never heard of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, get thee to a Google search, now! You won't regret it. The "Infinity Rooms" artist is known for her undulating, fascinating sculptures and kaleidoscopic installations. Her signature pumpkins, polka dots and flowers are currently on super-sized display at the New York Botanical Gardens, and they make up one of CNN Style's 16 favorite outdoor art exhibits of the summer.

Heroes among us

Chef Q. Ibraheem runs an upscale catering business and underground supper club in Evanston, Illinois. It took her years to grow her dreams, and she was finally tasting the fruits. Then, the pandemic hit. She watched as schools shut down and families were plunged into food insecurity. Putting aside her own fears for her business, Ibraheem started a program called Kids with Coworkers (referring to children who were home with their parents), to prepare and deliver healthy meals to struggling families. The work came naturally to her, since she had volunteered for years with youth programs in the Chicago area, teaching young people how to grow and prepare vegetables from local community gardens. Word of her efforts quickly spread, and donations started arriving, which enabled her to expand. Since March 2020, Ibraheem says she has provided more than 60,000 meals to more than 600 people.

Hear, hear!

The richness, beauty and depths of love can only be fully experienced in a climate of complete openness, honesty and vulnerability.

- Anthony Venn-Brown, a gay Australian author and religious leader whose experience in conversion therapy led him to become an LGBTQ advocate and voice for fellow conversion therapy survivors.

Wanna get away?

A new hotel just opened up on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. So yes, we will continue fantasizing about living there, but now with the added pain of knowing some lucky guests are getting very close. Le Grand Controle is located within three historic buildings that date back to 1681. Guests will wake up to views of the palace's famous Orangerie, framed by intricate window and wall coverings that wouldn't work anywhere else but a royal residence. If you get bored of the scenery (unlikely), you can always visit the spa, the swimming pool, or the restaurant, which serves up a menu inspired by Louis XIV, the Sun King himself.

Who knew?

There is a reason puppies steal your heart from the moment you meet them. According to new research, puppies are practically born ready to interact with people. "Puppies will look at and return a person's social gaze and successfully use information given by that person in a social context from a very young age, all prior to any extensive experience with people," says Emily Bray, the lead author of the study. Bray and her team evaluated 375 puppies that were all about 8 weeks old on a battery of social-cognitive measures, like eye contact and following physical cues. Bray has been studying guide dog development for the last decade, and hopes this kind of research will help groups successfully select and train these crucial companions.

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