Public lands are where most of our greatest adventures happen. From those first camping trips we took as kids to our last outings when we’re in our later years, those trips to the forest, the prairies or the lake are where we gain an appreciation with the natural world that’s worth more than our earnings from a lifetime of work. Because that connection with nature is vital for the conservation of the ecosystem and the preservation of the entire planet.
That might sound a little grandiose, but it’s the truth. Countless studies have shown that those who don’t understand the workings of the natural world don’t care whether it flourishes or falters. Yet those who spend even a little bit of time in the outdoors – even if it’s just a park in their city – are more involved in keeping wild places wild.
That’s why our public lands are important, and our outings are so valuable. We all need to be invested in nature in order to pass down that love of the outdoors to our children, and they to theirs, to ensure that our world is always hospitable for all the creatures that live on it.
But those public lands require more money to keep them open and healthy than you’d think. Many areas have been neglected, making them hard to get to, more prone to devastating fires, or otherwise in danger. But Congress recently passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which sets aside $900 million a year to keep those public lands accessible to all.
Go out and take advantage of the Great American Outdoors Act. Go camping. Go fishing. Hike. Do some scouting. And go hunt in the fall. Keep that love of nature alive.
