One of my favorite movies is Madagascar by Dreamworks Animation LLC. In one scene the penguins are trying to escape from the Central Park Zoo and Marty, the zebra, catches them in the act. Skipper, the lead penguin, explains to Marty they are escaping so they can go “to the wild“. Marty responds “The wild? You can actually go there– that sounds great!”
While I was a youngster my family went on numerous camping trips. We traveled to places like Shenandoah National Park in Virginia or Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina. We also camped weekends at state parks in Ohio. These trips were defining moments for me.
Between 11 and 16 years of age, I was particularly active in Boy Scouts. The adult leaders of my troop were incredibly dedicated and gave me unimaginable opportunities that further helped define what I enjoyed and where I was going with my life. My troop was sponsored by a Presbyterian church and one family in the congregation allowed the troop to build a scout camp on their wooded property north of Hamilton. I was there at every chance: building the camp, exploring the hills, learning outdoor skills, understanding nature, engaging with fellow scouts, and, among so many other things, observing, in the middle of the night, the Milky Way while learning constellations.
My troop also traveled to Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks but for multi-day backpack trips. When I turned 14, other “older” scouts and I traveled to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for lengthy and incredible backpacking trips. The first trip was so much fun that I returned two more times, at ages 15 and 16. Climbing Baldy Mountain (see picture below) was always on the itinerary. Then, after high school graduation, I actually worked the summer at Philmont as a backpacking instructor. I was actually paid to backpack; not a bad gig for an 18-year from Ohio!
Through these family outings and troop camping and backpacking trips I, like Marty, learned that you can actually “go there” and I’ve been searching out and exploring “the wild” ever since.
Until next time…I hope you can take a day to explore YOUR public lands…cheers!