“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”
-John Muir
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an “organic act” creating the U.S. National Parks Service. Although Yellowstone National Park had already existed for 44 years, this act created a Federal Agency whose purpose was to “protect and regulate the use of Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations”. Basically, this means that for the first time, national parks were guaranteed to be protected and maintained, something that had not always been a sure thing before.
Photo courtesy of Jim Peaco and Yellowstone National Park
Now it’s time to show everyone why these places matter. Send in you most inspiring stories about a visit to a national park, monument or reservation by August 30th, and we’ll pick out our favorite. The winning story will earn its writer a copy of MacGillivray Freeman’s National Parks Adventure, the companion book to the super popular Giant Screen film, and we’ll post the essay to our blog, for all to appreciate.
-Essays entered can be no longer than 500 words. Please send them to: webeditor@hmns.org
-The subject of the essay should pertain to a visit to a U.S. national park, monument or reservation.
-And remember: Turn in your entry by August 30th
Winners will be contacted on Friday, September 2.
