Greetings from Crater Lake National Park

Both my daughters have grown up with the National Parks. I wanted to give them the same experience of awe and stillness that I found as a child on family vacations….but in the case of my daughters, the entire trips were built around the National Parks. My eldest visited her first park, Zion, when she was three months old. She will visit her last park as my official “child” when we stop at Apostle Islands before dropping her off at college. In the years between these events, I watched both my girls grow from stubborn, selfish children, into young women full of poise, compassion and respect. I believe it was the National Parks that gave this to them. They have watched the planning of these summer adventures, the scouting of maps and routes, and the care that goes into packing for each hike: this has taught them to look ahead and measure risk. They have seen what happens when weather or crowds or cars don’t cooperate: this has taught them to be flexible and to re-evaluate goals. They have met many many people, of all ages and all walks of life: this has taught them joy and compassion. And above all, they have seen great beauty, from the shores of Chincoteague to the snows of Rainer. We have played in tide pools and rainforests, in lava tubes and in slot canyons. We have visited monuments celebrating valor and monuments decrying abominations…all have left their mark. I have no doubt that the Parks will continue to call to them the rest of their lives.

Sincerely,
Linda