Today kicks off National Park Week, and my personal celebration with my wife has included Yellowstone, Great Sand Dunes, Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, and Grand Canyon National Parks (along with numerous National Forests, National Monuments, and other BLM lands) in the last few weeks, with more coming up soon. We’re camping in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area as I write this.
America’s public lands are an amazing asset, allowing any citizen access to hike, fish, camp, kayak, or just drive through and sightsee. I’ve enjoyed them my whole life, and they’ve meant even more to me once I started writing my Who Pooped in the Park? books. Now that I’m semi-retired, I can spend even more time in the Parks.
I’ve seen a lot of change in the public lands in my lifetime, and the changes are accelerating fast. Climate change is melting the glaciers in Glacier National Park. The water level is insanely low in Lake Powell. Public lands are being sold (or leased) to private corporations. Protections for endangered species are being removed. Budgets are being cut.
During my book signings in the last couple of months, I’ve listened to hundreds of people from all over the world praise America’s amazing National Park system. Even people from gorgeous places like Norway, Switzerland, Japan, and Argentina are blown away by the natural beauty and accessibility of our National Parks.
Let’s all do what we can to help preserve this critical part of the U.S. infrastructure! Join one of the nonprofits that support the parks. Contact your legislators. Be an advocate for our public lands.
And VISIT! It’s a great time to visit the parks. With gas prices and general cost of living so high, we’re seeing empty spaces in the campgrounds, available hotel rooms, and uncrowded trails. If you can make it to your nearest National Park, do it. Maybe I’ll see you there!
