Idea Boards: Adventure, Recreation, and Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors

Idea Boards

Adventure

Hello Travelers (Virtual and On The Trail), I am Jen from jenonthetrail.com. This blog was created to celebrate a real crush I have on the National Parks. As I give a personalized account through a series of posts, my recent year of traveling to 62/63 National Parks, I will describe how I made ADVENTURE a part of my travel itinerary. By pushing my level of comfort to a space of growth, I encountered situations where I felt uncertainty and experienced temporary setbacks. Yet, through it all, a strong sense of accomplishment after each journey and the inspiration to continue on future adventures is what has been nurtured. Travel shouldn’t only be about goal setting, chasing dreams and bucket lists; it should allow for pastime, respite and recreation. Whether it be setting up a tent or rocking on a chair surrounded by the rustic appeal of a more than 100 year old fireplace, choosing where to stay in the national parks involves planning and can often stretch a family vacation budget beyond a comfort zone.

Recreation

In almost every park I visited, I included some form of RECREATION into my park visits such as backpacking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing or snorkeling in a manner to experience the recreation aspect of the National Parks. While I had a goal to visit the National Parks, I traveled through areas which operate their own outdoor spaces under state administration. State Parks boast great recreation for families and often serve as a splendid one-day itinerary.

Idea Boards: Adventure, Recreation, and Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors

Enjoyment

Granted, I get a “kick” from the thrill while speeding through a lake on a jet ski. Moreover, I experience a rush when snowmobiling in the fresh powder of a previous night’s snowfall. These activities have their place in pursuing adventure and recreation in the outdoors; yet, I get the most ENJOYMENT from self-propelled recreation. Much can be said for the benefits of experiencing recreation that is fueled by force of will. Kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, hiking and cycling are each an example of activities which rely on that force. Besides, I like to break a sweat from my own steam.

Great Outdoors

In the capacity of an author, I am striving to improve on communication and innovation. I blog to relay my passion of the GREAT OUTDOORS and bring the National Parks closer to you. Through the words of my posts, by way of sharing photos and in helping you build itineraries, I anticipate that readers and followers will encounter a more streamlined approach to travel and exploration within the public lands.

People in Parks

Among those who you will encounter when visiting the National Parks in the United States are history buffs, hobyists such birders and mountaineers are those deeply affected by their heritage. A number of heritage preservation sites, some only partially administered by National Park System, have been recently established. In some ways, such as the case with the Frederick Douglas site in Washington D.C., buildings may be under restoration projects. The unfortunate fact that certain sites are still not available for touring does not deter from the intrinsic signifance.

Stewardship and site appropriate Etiquette

With all sites in the National Park System, good stewardship and etiquette are values each visitor should maintain. While in the presence of heritage sites, it is important to note the minimum level of respect; remember that most sites in the National Park Service have their origins with Indigenous Peoples of North America.

That being said, parents should discuss appropriate and corresponding behavior with their children prior to arriving at each site. Social distancing, keeping recommended distances away from wildlife, being respectful of heritage sites, and leave no trace principles are values and part of the educational experience. If plans include float trip at a recreation site, then having a blast, laughing and being loud are all suitable behaviors; don’t forget to wear a lifevest (and helmet if going down rapids).

UNESCO

With a worldwide sphere of influence, UNESCO is the leading authority on cultural heritage preservation, historic significance and natural conservation. With this in mind, UNESCO has not focused on sites which are not at risk during peaceful times. The challenge the world faces is to stop or slow the dessimation on current cultural sites that are at risk for being lost forever; therefore it may appear that United States nominations have been overlooked. The 3 churches in Alabama which were integral to the Civil Rights movement have been on the UNESCO nominations list since 2008.

In 2011, it was noted that the USA had not paid their UNESCO dues in 2 years and did not have representation on the commitees responsible for selecting which 2 sites to consider each year. UNESCO is under no pressure to select 2, 1 or zero sites for inscription as a World Heritage Site each year as they follow the well known protocol and recommendations from committees.