If you are a wilderness geek like me, you might know that today, April 21st is the 179th birthday of John Muir. If you didn’t know, let me tell you why he may have been considered (in my eyes) one of the most important men on Planet Earth.
John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. He was the founder of the Sierra Club.
According to sources, Muir petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite as our second National Park. Do you know which was the first? (hint: also starts with a “Y”).
The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas.
He is today referred to as the “Father of the National Parks.”
How fortunate we are as a nation to be the beneficiaries of the natural world that so moved Muir to strongly advocate for the preservation of our Earth.
Even though I have stepped foot in Yosemite National Park 25 times, I am still moved and awestruck at its incredible beauty!
Happy birthday, John Muir, and thank you from the bottom of our nation’s collective hearts!
April 22 happens to be the 2017 date to celebrate Earth Day.
On Earth Day, we celebrate all the gifts the world and nature make available to us. We recognize our complete dependence on its bounty. And we acknowledge the need for good stewardship to preserve its fruits for future generations. John Hoeven
Do you live near one of America’s 410 National Parks? To help celebrate Earth Day, take advantage of this weekend’s FREE entrance into any National Park and get back in touch with the Earth.
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.