Harriet Tubman

Bio

Harriet Tubman, while famous for her incredible work on the Underground Railroad, was also a great naturalist! After escaping slavery in the south Tubman became a leading abolitionist before the American Civil War, leading dozens of enslaved people to freedom in the North along the Underground Railroad. In order to navigate her way North safely, she mastered many outdoors skills; foraging, identifying plant and animal species, hiking, and more. Her knowledge of and appreciation for the land helped her immensely in her many journeys.

Photo from: National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/people/harriet-tubman.htm

Reading Materials

Articles:

• The Forest Trailblazer by Aaron Kershaw

• Harriet Tubman, an Unsung Naturalist, Used Owl Calls as a Signal on the Underground Railroad by Allison Keyes

• What Would Harriet Tubman Do? by Carolyn Finney

• A Reflection on Harriet Tubman’s Relationship with Nature by Outdoor Afro