John Muir’s
love of nature began in his native Scotland.
In his autobiography, “The Story of My Boyhood and Youth”, Mr. Muir
tells stories about the discovery trips he and his brother would make to a
nearby castle. Climbing the walls and
the trees to investigate the birds or watch the sea. Of course, he also mentioned it was a good
look out for boys from the neighboring town.
After his
family moved to Wisconsin the exploration of nature continued. Making a homestead in the middle of the woods
made it easy. He wanted to know
everything about everything around him.
The animals, plants, bugs, the way the seasons affect the land. He also showed a great interest in the way we
affect the land.
That was
made evident when he fought to make Yosemite a national park. He saw the damage we were doing to the land
with the roads, hotels, and farming. He
knew it needed to be protected.
I think my
favorite thing about John Muir was his weapon in this fight. Words.
Mr. Muir wrote many articles describing the land the pleading for its
protection. The people who read these
articles wrote their representatives in Washington and a lobby to make Yosemite
National Park was created.
There is
much more to John Muir than I could ever put into a 200 word blog. In addition to a conservationist he was a
scientist, inventor, father, husband, founder of The Sierra Club and so much
more. John Muir is truly the father of
the National Parks as we know them today.
Thanks Mr. Muir for sharing your passion for nature with us.
Pack out
what you pack in.
Sources:
John
Muir: At home in the Wild, by Katherine
S. Talmadge, 21st Century Books; A division of Henry Holt and
Company; New York; ©1993
People
Who Have Helped the World: John Muir, by
Sally Tolan; Gareth Stevens Children’s Books, Milwaukee, WI ©1990
The
Story of My Boyhood and Youth by John Muir, University of Wisconsin Press,
Madison, WI ©1965
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