Preservation Responsibility

It’s fall and the scent of adventure is in the air. Being aware of your surroundings means more than just being careful to take care not to put yourself in a dangerous situation when you are exploring the outdoors. It also means being mindful of what your impact is on the environment you are in.

Recently a young woman was posting photos to social media featuring acrylic paintings she had done across various national parks across the country. While she felt she was only trying to express her creativity, she was crushing the muses for countless others by tampering with ancient and historical landscapes. Another terrible story involved young men destroying natural rock formations in Utah that had stood for centuries and took millennia to form, just for personal entertainment. These men were leaders in the Boy Scouts organization, which goes to show the kind of poor judgement that could lead to further generations of young people thinking this kind of behavior is acceptable.

When you are out experiencing the fulfillment that only being outdoors can deliver, be aware of the beauty and wonder that surrounds you, but also be mindful to minimize your disturbance of the things that bring you out into nature to begin with. Help preserve the amazing world we live in so that future generations can enjoy it too.

It can also be tempting to take a souvenir or two from an excursion. Maybe a shell here or a rock there. Certainly there are enough to go around, right? There is an old saying that goes along the lines of “Take only your memories & leave only your footprints.” That isn’t just an attempt to sound poetic. It’s good common sense advice to follow to ensure that what you find inspiring about the world around stays pristine.