Yellowstone National Park just celebrated its 150th anniversary in March of this year. This park is incredibly unique! The beautiful bison and pronghorn roaming free. Herds of animals eating from the lush vegetation in the 2.2 million acres of park land. Not to mention the thousands of hydrothermal features and hundreds of waterfalls. Hissing geysers and the vibrancy of colors.
Our national park systems are in place to ensure the natural balance of their environment remains intact. Yellowstone, a household name for more than a century, has always been one of the primary examples of our country’s spectacular wilderness areas.
In June, the park suffered massive devastation from a flood. The result of heavy rainfall and snow melt. The unusual timing, attributed by some to our ever-changing global climate.
I was lucky to have been able to visit the park right before the natural event occurred.
The preservation of such parks is something I feel incredibly strongly about.
It is an irreplaceable example of the importance of sustainability, a true national treasure, and a place (hundreds of thousands) of people visit from all over the world, each year.
Like the numerous other National Parks, it is a source of pride for the American people. It is something that, if lost, we cannot get back.
Just like the millions of architectural salvage artifacts saved and sold each day. The work of thousands of people making a small contribution to the greater good.
If you would like to contribute, follow any of the links listed here, and stay tuned for my next stop on the journey: Tetons!
Yellowstone Resiliency Fund
“To support the park as it recovers from devastating floods, we’ve launched the Yellowstone Resiliency Fund to provide immediate and flexible financial support for the most pressing needs in our park community. Your support will have powerful and timely impacts in Yellowstone as we navigate these recent events.”
https://www.yellowstone.org/yellowstone-resiliency-fund/
Want to make a more lasting impact here in the park? Join Yellowstone Forever Young Patrons
Yellowstone Forever Young
“The Yellowstone Forever Young Patrons gather in cities across the United States to celebrate the world’s first national park. We hope you will be able to join us soon.”
https://www.yellowstone.org/young-patrons/
Looking for opportunities outside of the park, to make a local impact day to day? I’m exited to introduce you to Missoula, Montana’s “pathway to zero waste.”
Zero By Fifty Missoula
A one-stop-shop for all things “Zero Waste” in Missoula. From an overview of the ZERO by FIFTY initiative, to practical tips on how to reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle, to ways to get involved in Missoula’s growing Zero Waste movement, we hope this will be a useful resource for you.
https://www.zerobyfiftymissoula.com
West Yellowstone Hot Springs
Yellowstone Bison along the bank of the Yellowstone River
Bald Eagle surveying his territory. Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park.
Flowing into the Boiling River
Mommoth Hotsprings
