hello everyone I’d like to start out just by inviting you guys to think for a
just by inviting you guys to think for a
just by inviting you guys to think for a second and think about the last time you
second and think about the last time you
second and think about the last time you had an opportunity to spend some time
had an opportunity to spend some time
had an opportunity to spend some time outdoors just kind of enjoying nature
outdoors just kind of enjoying nature
outdoors just kind of enjoying nature and maybe it was at the beach watching
and maybe it was at the beach watching
and maybe it was at the beach watching the sunset or maybe you were hiking up a
the sunset or maybe you were hiking up a
the sunset or maybe you were hiking up a mountain kind of looking out over the
mountain kind of looking out over the
mountain kind of looking out over the valley below you but just think about
valley below you but just think about
valley below you but just think about how you felt in that moment and ever
how you felt in that moment and ever
how you felt in that moment and ever since I’ve really I was really young
since I’ve really I was really young
since I’ve really I was really young I’ve always searched for these moments
I’ve always searched for these moments
I’ve always searched for these moments these moments out in nature these
these moments out in nature these
these moments out in nature these moments of clarity I’d spend every
moments of clarity I’d spend every
moments of clarity I’d spend every second I could outdoors hiking or biking
second I could outdoors hiking or biking
second I could outdoors hiking or biking or just exploring the local park and one
or just exploring the local park and one
or just exploring the local park and one of the most profound experiences I had
of the most profound experiences I had
of the most profound experiences I had in the outdoors was two summers ago when
in the outdoors was two summers ago when
in the outdoors was two summers ago when I was hiking the John Muir Trail and the
I was hiking the John Muir Trail and the
I was hiking the John Muir Trail and the John Muir trials is 230 mile trail that
John Muir trials is 230 mile trail that
John Muir trials is 230 mile trail that goes from Yosemite Valley to Mount
goes from Yosemite Valley to Mount
goes from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney so straight through the heart
Whitney so straight through the heart
Whitney so straight through the heart the Sierra Nevada mountain range and one
the Sierra Nevada mountain range and one
the Sierra Nevada mountain range and one of the incredible things about the John
of the incredible things about the John
of the incredible things about the John Muir Trail is its remoteness for the 23
Muir Trail is its remoteness for the 23
Muir Trail is its remoteness for the 23 days that I was hiking there was really
days that I was hiking there was really
days that I was hiking there was really no cell service no man-made structures
no cell service no man-made structures
no cell service no man-made structures really no connection to the outside
really no connection to the outside
really no connection to the outside world and what this did is it allowed
world and what this did is it allowed
world and what this did is it allowed you to live a very simple existence on
you to live a very simple existence on
you to live a very simple existence on the trail you’d wake up every morning
the trail you’d wake up every morning
the trail you’d wake up every morning and the only things you’re worried about
and the only things you’re worried about
and the only things you’re worried about or where you’re going to sleep that
or where you’re going to sleep that
or where you’re going to sleep that night you know what you were going to
night you know what you were going to
night you know what you were going to eat how you were going to get over that
eat how you were going to get over that
eat how you were going to get over that next mountain pass and this simplicity
next mountain pass and this simplicity
next mountain pass and this simplicity this lap of black of distractions allow
this lap of black of distractions allow
this lap of black of distractions allow you to spend the rest of your time
you to spend the rest of your time
you to spend the rest of your time you’re just living in the moment you’d
you’re just living in the moment you’d
you’re just living in the moment you’d be enjoying the beauty that surrounds
be enjoying the beauty that surrounds
be enjoying the beauty that surrounds you all the incredible mountains are
you all the incredible mountains are
you all the incredible mountains are having conversations with your
having conversations with your
having conversations with your companions and when I got back to
companions and when I got back to
companions and when I got back to regular society after so much time in
regular society after so much time in
regular society after so much time in the wilderness kind of cut off from
the wilderness kind of cut off from
the wilderness kind of cut off from civilization it was just overwhelming
civilization it was just overwhelming
civilization it was just overwhelming you know my sense is where I complete
you know my sense is where I complete
you know my sense is where I complete overload it be simple things like
overload it be simple things like
overload it be simple things like sitting at a car or in a coffee shop and
sitting at a car or in a coffee shop and
sitting at a car or in a coffee shop and just all the traffic the people the
just all the traffic the people the
just all the traffic the people the noises all these distractions
noises all these distractions
noises all these distractions surrounding me had me completely
surrounding me had me completely
surrounding me had me completely overwhelmed it was a culture shock that
overwhelmed it was a culture shock that
overwhelmed it was a culture shock that I can’t really explain and when I got
I can’t really explain and when I got
I can’t really explain and when I got back to regular society my regular
back to regular society my regular
back to regular society my regular routine I started to miss some of the
routine I started to miss some of the
routine I started to miss some of the aspects of
aspects of
aspects of life on the trail on the simplicity of
life on the trail on the simplicity of
life on the trail on the simplicity of it and it really made me think about how
it and it really made me think about how
it and it really made me think about how we’re living our lives today and how we
we’re living our lives today and how we
we’re living our lives today and how we used to live our lives and about 200,000
used to live our lives and about 200,000
used to live our lives and about 200,000 years ago the first Homo sapiens evolved
years ago the first Homo sapiens evolved
years ago the first Homo sapiens evolved so our species started walking this
so our species started walking this
so our species started walking this planet and we really only started
planet and we really only started
planet and we really only started industrializing you know creating these
industrializing you know creating these
industrializing you know creating these massive cities these massive factories
massive cities these massive factories
massive cities these massive factories I’m living the life styles we did today
I’m living the life styles we did today
I’m living the life styles we did today just about 200 years ago but what does
just about 200 years ago but what does
just about 200 years ago but what does this mean this means that for
this mean this means that for
this mean this means that for ninety-nine point nine percent of our
ninety-nine point nine percent of our
ninety-nine point nine percent of our existence we lived in the outdoors we
existence we lived in the outdoors we
existence we lived in the outdoors we were hunter-gatherers we were farmers
were hunter-gatherers we were farmers
were hunter-gatherers we were farmers with these people that lived directly
with these people that lived directly
with these people that lived directly they lived and work outside directly
they lived and work outside directly
they lived and work outside directly with nature have this really close
with nature have this really close
with nature have this really close connection and today you know our
connection and today you know our
connection and today you know our lifestyles is a pretty drastic change
lifestyles is a pretty drastic change
lifestyles is a pretty drastic change from that we can go entire days spent
from that we can go entire days spent
from that we can go entire days spent inside without really noticing it you
inside without really noticing it you
inside without really noticing it you know whether it’s a weekend been binge
know whether it’s a weekend been binge
know whether it’s a weekend been binge watching Netflix or a weekday just going
watching Netflix or a weekday just going
watching Netflix or a weekday just going in between school in your car and home
in between school in your car and home
in between school in your car and home and really not being exposed to the
and really not being exposed to the
and really not being exposed to the outdoors and really experiencing it and
outdoors and really experiencing it and
outdoors and really experiencing it and in the Western developed world most of
in the Western developed world most of
in the Western developed world most of our you know the things we used to get
our you know the things we used to get
our you know the things we used to get from nature directly from nature are
from nature directly from nature are
from nature directly from nature are provided for us essentially at the touch
provided for us essentially at the touch
provided for us essentially at the touch of a button we have access to fresh
of a button we have access to fresh
of a button we have access to fresh water to cook our food we can even
water to cook our food we can even
water to cook our food we can even change the temperature of the
change the temperature of the
change the temperature of the environment surrounding us and don’t get
environment surrounding us and don’t get
environment surrounding us and don’t get me wrong a lot of these technological
me wrong a lot of these technological
me wrong a lot of these technological advances are have done absolutely
advances are have done absolutely
advances are have done absolutely incredible things for society allowing
incredible things for society allowing
incredible things for society allowing us to support a bigger population
us to support a bigger population
us to support a bigger population population live longer lives healthier
population live longer lives healthier
population live longer lives healthier lives and not if the work is hard but it
lives and not if the work is hard but it
lives and not if the work is hard but it does make you wonder you know is all of
does make you wonder you know is all of
does make you wonder you know is all of this good could there be some
this good could there be some
this good could there be some implications to this drastic change in
implications to this drastic change in
implications to this drastic change in lifestyle and I was reading so the
lifestyle and I was reading so the
lifestyle and I was reading so the memoirs of John mirror one of the most
memoirs of John mirror one of the most
memoirs of John mirror one of the most famous naturalist and you know he spent
famous naturalist and you know he spent
famous naturalist and you know he spent a lot of time in the outdoors you know I
a lot of time in the outdoors you know I
a lot of time in the outdoors you know I hiked the hike the trail that bears his
hiked the hike the trail that bears his
hiked the hike the trail that bears his name he spent a lot of time out in the
name he spent a lot of time out in the
name he spent a lot of time out in the Sierras where I was and had experienced
Sierras where I was and had experienced
Sierras where I was and had experienced a lot of the same things and had a lot
a lot of the same things and had a lot
a lot of the same things and had a lot of the same ideas about the simplicity
of the same ideas about the simplicity
of the same ideas about the simplicity of nature and about being out in the
of nature and about being out in the
of nature and about being out in the outdoors and he was realizing this same
outdoors and he was realizing this same
outdoors and he was realizing this same problem the same shift in our lifestyle
problem the same shift in our lifestyle
problem the same shift in our lifestyle even a hundred years ago
even a hundred years ago
even a hundred years ago and one of my favorite quotes from him
and one of my favorite quotes from him
and one of my favorite quotes from him is thousands of tired nerve shaken over
is thousands of tired nerve shaken over
is thousands of tired nerve shaken over civilized people are beginning to find
civilized people are beginning to find
civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going
out that going to the mountains is going
out that going to the mountains is going home that wildness is a necessity and
home that wildness is a necessity and
home that wildness is a necessity and that mountain parks and reservations are
that mountain parks and reservations are
that mountain parks and reservations are fountains of life I really like this
fountains of life I really like this
fountains of life I really like this term fountains of life I think it really
term fountains of life I think it really
term fountains of life I think it really captures nature’s rejuvenating quality
captures nature’s rejuvenating quality
captures nature’s rejuvenating quality there’s been a lot of studies about
there’s been a lot of studies about
there’s been a lot of studies about nature’s effects on the brain you know
nature’s effects on the brain you know
nature’s effects on the brain you know things like increased cognitive function
things like increased cognitive function
things like increased cognitive function and well-being and all this science to
and well-being and all this science to
and well-being and all this science to back up why we should go outside but I
back up why we should go outside but I
back up why we should go outside but I think there’s something about our
think there’s something about our
think there’s something about our connection the outdoors that nature that
connection the outdoors that nature that
connection the outdoors that nature that science can’t capture and I think our
science can’t capture and I think our
science can’t capture and I think our connection is almost something spiritual
connection is almost something spiritual
connection is almost something spiritual and why why is this I think it’s because
and why why is this I think it’s because
and why why is this I think it’s because when you’re out of nature and all the
when you’re out of nature and all the
when you’re out of nature and all the distractions are stripped away I’m
distractions are stripped away I’m
distractions are stripped away I’m you’re left with time it was time to
you’re left with time it was time to
you’re left with time it was time to reflect time to really think time to
reflect time to really think time to
reflect time to really think time to enjoy I’m the beauty that surrounds you
enjoy I’m the beauty that surrounds you
enjoy I’m the beauty that surrounds you and appreciate the people in places that
and appreciate the people in places that
and appreciate the people in places that you exist with and we don’t really have
you exist with and we don’t really have
you exist with and we don’t really have time for that in most of our hectic
time for that in most of our hectic
time for that in most of our hectic daily lives and I watched a film a
daily lives and I watched a film a
daily lives and I watched a film a couple months back called captain
couple months back called captain
couple months back called captain fantastic and it’s a relatively new film
fantastic and it’s a relatively new film
fantastic and it’s a relatively new film I’m just came out pretty recently but
I’m just came out pretty recently but
I’m just came out pretty recently but it’s about this family that grows up in
it’s about this family that grows up in
it’s about this family that grows up in the Pacific Northwest out in the woods
the Pacific Northwest out in the woods
the Pacific Northwest out in the woods I’m all these kids they spend their days
I’m all these kids they spend their days
I’m all these kids they spend their days you’re living in a tent and living off
you’re living in a tent and living off
you’re living in a tent and living off the land they’re hiking and hunting and
the land they’re hiking and hunting and
the land they’re hiking and hunting and fishing and but they also do things like
fishing and but they also do things like
fishing and but they also do things like reading and learning languages and
reading and learning languages and
reading and learning languages and making music and having conversations
making music and having conversations
making music and having conversations with one another and really developing
with one another and really developing
with one another and really developing their minds and what you find is when
their minds and what you find is when
their minds and what you find is when they go back to civilization for a time
they go back to civilization for a time
they go back to civilization for a time after spending so much time of the woods
after spending so much time of the woods
after spending so much time of the woods they’re living with their aunts in
they’re living with their aunts in
they’re living with their aunts in Albuquerque I mean they’re cousins and
Albuquerque I mean they’re cousins and
Albuquerque I mean they’re cousins and you see this really sharp contrast
you see this really sharp contrast
you see this really sharp contrast between these kids that were raised in
between these kids that were raised in
between these kids that were raised in the woods and their cousins who were
the woods and their cousins who were
the woods and their cousins who were raised in so-called regular society and
raised in so-called regular society and
raised in so-called regular society and the kids are raised in the woods are
the kids are raised in the woods are
the kids are raised in the woods are lacking some social skills you know they
lacking some social skills you know they
lacking some social skills you know they don’t they might not know what the
don’t they might not know what the
don’t they might not know what the latest fashion trends were what’s going
latest fashion trends were what’s going
latest fashion trends were what’s going around the internet right now but they
around the internet right now but they
around the internet right now but they had this really deep understanding of
had this really deep understanding of
had this really deep understanding of the worlds and had formed these beliefs
the worlds and had formed these beliefs
the worlds and had formed these beliefs and do all these things they’d spent all
and do all these things they’d spent all
and do all these things they’d spent all this time learning
this time learning
this time learning we’re the kids that were raised just in
we’re the kids that were raised just in
we’re the kids that were raised just in regular society and spend a lot of the
regular society and spend a lot of the
regular society and spend a lot of the time you know playing video games and
time you know playing video games and
time you know playing video games and checking social media and all this stuff
checking social media and all this stuff
checking social media and all this stuff that kind of sucks up a lot of time that
that kind of sucks up a lot of time that
that kind of sucks up a lot of time that sometimes we don’t even realize and it
sometimes we don’t even realize and it
sometimes we don’t even realize and it was just a really eye-opening example up
was just a really eye-opening example up
was just a really eye-opening example up to these two different ways of lifestyle
to these two different ways of lifestyle
to these two different ways of lifestyle and what we could benefit from going
and what we could benefit from going
and what we could benefit from going outdoors and kind of removing these
outdoors and kind of removing these
outdoors and kind of removing these distractions and I read another book
distractions and I read another book
distractions and I read another book called desert solitaire by edward abbey
called desert solitaire by edward abbey
called desert solitaire by edward abbey and desert solitaire is a story about a
and desert solitaire is a story about a
and desert solitaire is a story about a ranger in arches national park and
ranger in arches national park and
ranger in arches national park and arches is just this beautiful expanse of
arches is just this beautiful expanse of
arches is just this beautiful expanse of desert wilderness out in utah and he
desert wilderness out in utah and he
desert wilderness out in utah and he talks about a lot of the same things
talks about a lot of the same things
talks about a lot of the same things that john muir talks about you know he’s
that john muir talks about you know he’s
that john muir talks about you know he’s talking about the simplicity of nature
talking about the simplicity of nature
talking about the simplicity of nature the beauty of it the quality of
the beauty of it the quality of
the beauty of it the quality of reflection that you can do when you live
reflection that you can do when you live
reflection that you can do when you live life outdoors but he also brings up
life outdoors but he also brings up
life outdoors but he also brings up something a little more concerning you
something a little more concerning you
something a little more concerning you know being a ranger in arches national
know being a ranger in arches national
know being a ranger in arches national park for an extended period of time he’s
park for an extended period of time he’s
park for an extended period of time he’s able to see it develop he’s able to see
able to see it develop he’s able to see
able to see it develop he’s able to see the construction of pave roads of
the construction of pave roads of
the construction of pave roads of visitor centers places that things that
visitor centers places that things that
visitor centers places that things that take it away from you know being the
take it away from you know being the
take it away from you know being the wilderness a once was making it a little
wilderness a once was making it a little
wilderness a once was making it a little bit more of a tourist attraction and if
bit more of a tourist attraction and if
bit more of a tourist attraction and if any of you guys have been to yosemite in
any of you guys have been to yosemite in
any of you guys have been to yosemite in the summertime you probably know what
the summertime you probably know what
the summertime you probably know what i’m talking about you know sometimes it
i’m talking about you know sometimes it
i’m talking about you know sometimes it looks looks a little bit more like
looks looks a little bit more like
looks looks a little bit more like disneyland than it does a wilderness
disneyland than it does a wilderness
disneyland than it does a wilderness area and this development has some
area and this development has some
area and this development has some pluses you know it allows for all these
pluses you know it allows for all these
pluses you know it allows for all these people these millions of people to
people these millions of people to
people these millions of people to experience the gems of our national park
experience the gems of our national park
experience the gems of our national park system and get outdoors when they might
system and get outdoors when they might
system and get outdoors when they might not otherwise be able to access them but
not otherwise be able to access them but
not otherwise be able to access them but it does make you wonder are all of our
it does make you wonder are all of our
it does make you wonder are all of our wilderness areas are open spaces headed
wilderness areas are open spaces headed
wilderness areas are open spaces headed down the same path to development you
down the same path to development you
down the same path to development you know places like these looks like
know places like these looks like
know places like these looks like Yosemite to the onlooker they might look
Yosemite to the onlooker they might look
Yosemite to the onlooker they might look like economic value you know they’ve got
like economic value you know they’ve got
like economic value you know they’ve got all this potential for their natural
all this potential for their natural
all this potential for their natural resources for building resorts tourist
resources for building resorts tourist
resources for building resorts tourist attractions but left untouched these
attractions but left untouched these
attractions but left untouched these wild spaces hold so much more value and
wild spaces hold so much more value and
wild spaces hold so much more value and it’s going to be one of the greatest
it’s going to be one of the greatest
it’s going to be one of the greatest challenge of our generation to remember
challenge of our generation to remember
challenge of our generation to remember these places as we move forward because
these places as we move forward because
these places as we move forward because no place is ever truly protected you
no place is ever truly protected you
no place is ever truly protected you know even if it’s a national park
know even if it’s a national park
know even if it’s a national park because the duty falls on each
because the duty falls on each
because the duty falls on each consecutive generation to continue its
consecutive generation to continue its
consecutive generation to continue its protection for it to ever be truly
protection for it to ever be truly
protection for it to ever be truly protected and I’m not just talking about
protected and I’m not just talking about
protected and I’m not just talking about places like Yosemite and the Grand
places like Yosemite and the Grand
places like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon I’m talking about places like
Canyon I’m talking about places like
Canyon I’m talking about places like spring lake or an Adele State Park
spring lake or an Adele State Park
spring lake or an Adele State Park places in our own backyard that we can
places in our own backyard that we can
places in our own backyard that we can go to after school work and de-stress
go to after school work and de-stress
go to after school work and de-stress and rejuvenate and just spend some time
and rejuvenate and just spend some time
and rejuvenate and just spend some time out of the natural world because these
out of the natural world because these
out of the natural world because these places hold so much value and they’re
places hold so much value and they’re
places hold so much value and they’re absolutely crucial to not only the
absolutely crucial to not only the
absolutely crucial to not only the well-being of the individual but of
well-being of the individual but of
well-being of the individual but of society as a whole and I like to leave
society as a whole and I like to leave
society as a whole and I like to leave you with one more John Muir quote
you with one more John Muir quote
you with one more John Muir quote everyone needs beauty as well as bread
everyone needs beauty as well as bread
everyone needs beauty as well as bread places the play in and pray in where
places the play in and pray in where
places the play in and pray in where nature may heal and give strength to
nature may heal and give strength to
nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike thank
body and soul alike thank
body and soul alike thank [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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