OutGrown Blog

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features Theodore Roosevelt. MILITARY LEADER. PRESIDENT. NOBEL PRIZE WINNER. CONSERVATIONIST. Theodore Roosevelt unexpectedly became America's 26th president after the assassination of William McKinley. During his presidency, he set aside 200 million acres of land for national forests, reserves and wildlife refuges, which would later become some of America's national parks. Theodore Roosevelt helped to create America's National Parks. (Photo via adventure-journal.com.) WHO WAS THEODORE ROOSEVELT? Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. His family was wealthy, and he was frail and sickly as a boy. However, he overcame his health issues and went on to achieve great success in life. He graduated from Harvard University and later went to Columbia Law School at Columbia University, but he dropped out to begin a career of public service. Roosevelt was married, but his wife died in 1884. He later married his high school sweetheart, and they raised six children, including his daughter from his first marriage. As president, Roosevelt sought to build up America's defenses to prepare the country for its expanded role on the world stage. Roosevelt won a Nobel Prize for his work leading negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). After a career in politics, Roosevelt passed away at his home in Oyster Bay, New York, in 1919 at 60 years old. Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt's conservation efforts, we can enjoy the beauty of Saguro National Park and more. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEGACY Most remember Roosevelt as a United States president. However, his work in conservation and helping establish the National Parks in the United States is also part of his legacy. Roosevelt used his authority as president to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service. This service established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game reserves, 5 national parks and 18 national monuments. Roosevelt was not alone in his conservation efforts. In perhaps one of the most famous camping trips in history, President Roosevelt spent three nights camping with John Muir. During the 1903 camping trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Muir persuaded Roosevelt to return the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove to federal protection as part of Yosemite National Park. In addition to his work in conservation, Roosevelt also helped increase the government regulations and safety standards of food and medicine with the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act. He also led the way to ensure the Panama Canal was built, which created a shortcut between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. CONNECTING TO KIDS Read more about Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir's camping trip with your kids in The Camping Trip that Changed America. Kids can thank Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt for teddy bears, which can be traced back to a hunting trip in Mississippi in 1902. Consider going on a bear hunt hike to honor Roosevelt and his conservation efforts.  QUICK FACTS Roosevelt's first wife and mother both died on the same day in 1884. Roosevelt was the youngest man to become president at 42 years, 10 months, and 18 days. Roosevelt is one of four U.S. presidents whose face is carved into Mount Rushmore. Roosevelt actually preferred the nicknames TR or Colonel to Teddy. Roosevelt's legacy lives on through the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features Verplanck Colvin. ATTORNEY. ENGINEER. AUTHOR. CONSERVATIONIST. Where is the largest park in the lower 48 states located? Many outdoor enthusiasts assume it's Yellowstone or Yosemite National Park. But the park with the largest amount of publically protected land is actually larger than the state of Rhode Island. Located in upstate New York, Adirondack Park has six million acres and is "Forever Wild" thanks to a very forward-thinking attorney and topographical engineer named Verplanck Colvin. WHO IS VERPLANCK COLVIN? Verplanck Colvin spent three summers surveying the area that became the Adirondack Park between 1869-1871. He traversed the wilds of the Adirondack Mountains along with his friend, Miles Blake, who composed an illustrated story of their trip for Harper's New Monthly Magazine. One of the most distressing observations Colvin discovered was the impact the foresting industry had on the Adirondack Mountains. His survey and report on the state of the wildness of the Adirondacks were brought to the attention of the state government, who approved a stipend for a further survey of the area during the summer of 1872. Among the results of the survey was the discovery of what many considered the source of the Hudson River located in Keene, NY, at Lake Tear of the Clouds. Colvin's survey data indicated if the watershed in the Adirondacks were not preserved, the Erie Canal, which was vital to the state economy, would be threatened. As a result, Colvin was appointed thereafter as the superintendent of  New York state survey. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="medium" ids="734814,734815"] PRESERVING THE LAND In 1892, the State Legislature passed a bill to establish the blue lines where "state acquisition of private in-holdings was to be concentrated." And as a compromise to cordon off such a large area of land, 100,000 square miles to be exact, the state was allowed to sell state lands elsewhere, as well as lease land within the Adirondacks to build camps and cottages. The Constitutional Conventions in 1895 provided further protection of the Adirondacks with the establishment of stronger protections of the Forest Preserve. Since 1895, there have only been two alterations to the Adirondack Park. Both took place in the 20th century as the area became an increasingly popular source of tourism revenue. The first was to cut ski trails at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid (1940) and the second was to construct the Northway I-87 (1958). The Adirondack Mountains were a popular vacation home destination for wealthy families from New York City. It was also a summer retreat for state governors, many of whom became U.S. Presidents. For example, the White Pines camp was the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge. A classic Adirondack sunset in the fall season. CONNECTING TO KIDS Colvin's preservation efforts taught us to respect the balance between leaving nature to grow wild and using its natural resources for our everyday needs. When we go on HiB hikes, we "leave no trace" and take our litter with. In addition, we avoid disrupting the natural habitat of the plants, insects and wildlife we encounter. While my 2-year-old daughter, Bee, is especially fond of brightly colored berries these days, I remind her the birds need the berries to eat and we need to leave them on the bush. She is also fascinated with watching fish swim in a pond or a stream. Thus, I'm so thankful the Hudson River watershed has various environmental protections in place to keep the water as clean as possible. Today, it is estimated that the Adirondack Park has 10 million visitors annually. There are mountains of various elevations to hike within the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Some of my family's favorites are Mount Marcy, Tongue Mountain (watch out for snakes!) and Whiteface Mountain. Here are some great resources to use when planning a family visit to the Adirondacks. The Wild Center, Tupper Lake, NY Fort Ticonderoga, northern end of Lake George  Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics  Lake George Island Campgrounds The northern end of Lake George is in the southeast section of the Adirdondack Park. REFLECTION The Adirondacks are where I learned to really, truly, deeply fall in love with the outdoors. I hiked with my family many summers during my childhood. I also used boating skills learned at summer camp to explore the northern end of Lake George as well as Osgood Pond in Paul Smiths'. The only time of year I hesitate to recommend is early June when it is peak black fly season. Otherwise, I have been in the 'Daks during all four seasons of the year. Because of Colvin's passion for this special place, I have a love of the outdoors and respect for nature that I can pass on to Bee. The Adirondack Park is "Forever Wild" today and for generations to come thanks to Colvin's tireless preservation efforts.

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson speaks before the Senate in 1963. Photo credit: United Press International BIOLOGIST. AUTHOR. ECOLOGIST. EDUCATOR. CONSERVATIONIST. Rachel Carson is best known for her book Silent Spring. In this book, Carson called for a change in the way humankind viewed the natural world. She challenged the use of DDT, citing the harm it causes for humans and the environment. WHO IS RACHEL CARSON? Rachel Carson was born in Springdale, Penn. on May 27, 1907. An author early on in life, Carson won her first writing award at age 11 for a story published in St. Nicholas Magazine. Carson later attended Pennsylvania College for Women, now Chatham University, with intentions of majoring in English and becoming a teacher. After graduation, Carson attended Johns Hopkins University's Department of Zoology, where she would later teach. She earned her master of arts degree. Additionally, she planned to pursue her doctorate in marine biology at Johns Hopkins. This was during the Great Depression, and due to a lack of funds, Carson was forced to drop out of the program. After leaving school, Carson worked as a features writer for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries in the Department of Commerce. She wrote 52 short radio programs on marine life titled "Romance Under the Waters." She also began freelance writing for other publications, including The Baltimore Sun and Atlantic Monthly. By June of 1939, Carson was working as assistant aquatic biologist in the Department of Commerce while continuing her writing career. While continuing to work her way up in the Department of Commerce, Carson published her first book, Under the Sea-Wind. She continued to have her writing published in popular magazines, including Reader's Digest. Carson had a breast tumor removed in 1950, but no further treatment was suggested. In 1951, Carson resigned as a biologist to concentrate on writing full-time. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEGACY Rachel Carson is perhaps most well-known for her book Silent Spring. Published in 1962, Carson aimed to educate the public on the dangers of misusing pesticides. Carson spoke out about the dangers despite being attacked by the chemical industry as an alarmist. Carson testified before Congress in 1963 and called for new policies to protect the environment and human health. Unfortunately, she died from breast cancer in 1964. However, her legacy will remain in the fact that Silent Spring resulted in the banning of DDT and allowed for changes in laws regarding the air, land, and water. CONNECTING TO KIDS Before Rachel Carson's death, she was working on a book called The Sense of Wonder. In this book, she encouraged parents to explore nature with their children. Some activities to live out this book's mission include scavenger hunts and nature books, can be found here. Find a Rachel Carson biography for kids here. After reading the biography, you can test your knowledge with a quiz. Try a picture book with younger kids: Rachel Carson and Her Book that Changed the World and Listening to Crickets: A Story about Rachel Carson are both good options View a short video on Rachel Carson through Brain Pop (this is a subscription-based site). "Some of nature's most exquisite handiwork is on a miniature scale." - Rachel Carson QUICK FACTS Rachel Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980 by President Carter. Carson was featured on a postage stamp in 1981. Many people credit Carson and her books for creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features John Audubon. Artist. Businessman. Woodsman. Conservationist. John Audubon's name will forever be connected to that of birds and bird conservation. Audubon spent half a century as a wildlife artist, and his works are still a standard among modern-day bird artists. And although Audubon himself did not found the National Audubon Society, it was named in his honor when it was created in 1905. Who is John Audubon? John Audubon was born in 1785 in Les Cayes, a French colony that is now Haiti. Audubon was the son of a French plantation owner and his servant. His mother died shortly after he was born, and he was raised by his father and his father's wife, who adopted him a short time later. His adoption provided him with a new name, Jean-Jacques Audubon, and along with this name came new privileges. He took art and music lessons, and he also enjoyed the outdoors, especially birds. When Audubon was 18, war broke out between France and England. To avoid being drafted into the Army, Audubon's father sent him to an estate he owned in Pennsylvania. Once there, he hunted, studied and continued to pursue his art. He also married Lucy Bakewell. The couple had two sons. Audubon spent the next 10 years as a businessman, setting up dry-goods stores along the Ohio River to western Kentucky. During this time, he continued drawing birds as a hobby. Eventually, difficult times hit and Audubon was briefly jailed for bankruptcy. Afterwards, Audubon set out on a journey documenting America's birds. He traveled with his art supplies, gun and an assistant. He created life-sized portraits of birds and compiled his portraits for his Birds of America book. A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children. (John Audubon) Accomplishments and Legacy Audubon was an innovative scientist, and he was the first known person to track the migration patterns of birds by tying colored yarn to their legs. Additionally, he discovered 25 new species of birds, which was quite impressive considering he was a self-taught scientist. He was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Linnaean Society and the Royal Society of London. Connecting to Kids John Audubon may have lived long ago, but his love of birds can be shared with your little ones! Adopt a Puffin. Help conserve this bird species and receive information on an individual puffin, a summary of its most recent behaviors and a current color photo. Color a bird or other critter. Find printable pictures of birds and other creatures and add color to bring them to life! Get a coloring book version of Audubon's Birds of America. Get a nature journal to draw the birds seen on hikes. Check out these children's books. Quick Facts John Audubon was a taxidermist. He observed birds in their natural state, but he found it necessary to kill the birds he was going to paint. He then created his drawings based on how he displayed the birds. Although Audubon is best known for his work with birds, he also studied mammals. His final work, published posthumously, was titled Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. At the time of publication, Birds of America, was costly. The cost of printing the complete works was $115,640 at the time (over $2 million today). It also took 14 years for the entire work to be printed! In 2010, a first-edition copy of Birds of America was sold for over $11 million in London. As I grew up I was fervently desirous of becoming acquainted with Nature. (John Audubon) Do you have a favorite conservationist? Did John Audubon inspire you? Let us know in the comments Other posts in this series: John Muir, Benton MacKaye, Mardy Murie

Wife. Mother. Naturalist.  Author.  Adventurer. Conservationist. Mardy Murie has been called the “Grandmother of the Conservation Movement.” Along with her husband, Olaus, she played a key role in preserving forever some of the country’s last wild places. Who is Mardy Murie? Margaret Elizabeth Thomas was born on August 18, 1902, in Seattle, Washington, to parents who divorced when she was young. Her mother remarried, and she spent much of her childhood in Fairbanks, Alaska, where her stepfather served as Assistant U.S. Attorney. She left Alaska to attend college in the lower 48, but met the love of her life on a trip home one summer. A neighbor introduced her to a young scientist for the U.S. Biological Survey studying caribou in Alaska. She married Olaus Murie on August 1924 at a 3 a.m. sunrise wedding ceremony in a log chapel on the banks of the Yukon River.  They left on their honeymoon the next day—a 6-month, 500-mile boat and dogsled caribou research trip through northern Alaska. Mardy quickly became a naturalist herself, and thereafter accompanied Olaus on his research trips, later bringing their three children along too. The Muries moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1927 when Olaus was sent to study the dwindling elk herd. Olaus resigned from the Biological Survey in 1945 and became President of the Wilderness Society and Mardy served as Secretary. Their ranch soon became the unofficial headquarters of the Society, hosting board meetings, debates and discussions from the 1940s to the 1960s. Some consider their home the birthplace of the modern conservation movement. Olaus died in 1963, but Mardy continued the work they began together for four more decades. She wrote letters, attended hearings, testified before Congress and gave speeches on wilderness. She worked tirelessly until the end.  She died at home on October 19, 2003, at the age of 101. Accomplishments Olaus and Mardy were instrumental in the creation of Jackson Hole National Monument, and later Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. They personally led the movement to create the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska (1960), even leading the expedition of biologists in 1956 to gather data in support of the idea. The Muries played key roles in the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, which, to date, has protected 110 million acres of land in pristine condition. The idea behind the act was birthed at the Murie Ranch. In 1975, Mardy was chosen to be part of a task force that traveled to Alaska to identify land to be included in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Her testimony was key to the passage of the act in 1980, which protected over 100 million acres of land in Alaska as national parks, national monuments, wild and scenic rivers, recreation areas, national wildlife refuges, and conservation areas. It is still considered the greatest preservation legislation in U.S. history. Mardy authored Two in the Far North (1962), Wapiti Wilderness (1966) and Island Between. Mardy received the Audubon Medal (1980), the John Muir Award (1983), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1998), and several honorary doctorates for her work. Love of Nature Mardy once said, “I think most of my philosophy could be expressed in a very few words that were found on an old tombstone in Cumberland, England. Olaus put them on a plaque hanging over our mantlepiece:  'The wonder of the world, the beauty and the power, the shapes of things, their colours, lights and shades—these I saw. Look ye also while life lasts.'" The beauty of Alaska and the mountains of Wyoming, her husband’s contagious passion for wildlife, the years spent living in a tent outdoors with her family in wilderness areas—these drew Mardy into a life of conservation.  For her, it began with love—of a place, of a man, of wilderness. QUICK FACTS Mardy was the first female graduate of the University of Alaska in 1924. The Muries were the inspiration for John Denver’s song “A Song for All Lovers” Mardy’s half-sister, Louise, married Olaus’ half-brother, Adolph, who was also a biologist. Olaus and Adolph pioneered the ecological approach to wildlife management on public lands still in use today–one that validates the role of predators in the ecosystem. The Muries' ranch is now part of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and home to the Murie Center, an organization whose mission is to inspire rising conservation leaders. CONNECTING TO KIDS Want to share Mardy’s legacy with your kids? Here are several ways to do that. Read Mardy Murie Did! Grandmother of Conservation  by Jequita Potts McDaniel. Read Friends of the Earth: A History of American Environmentalism with 21 Activities for Kids by Pat McCarthy. There’s a fascinating chapter on Mardy Murie among other key conservationsists. Learn more about the areas preserved by the Wilderness Act by completing the NPS Wilderness Explorer: Junior Ranger Activities and Adventures for 8 and Up booklet. Visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge website to see photos of a place Mardy loved and fought to preserve

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments, and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features Benton MacKaye. Forester. Teacher. Trail Maker. Conservationist. If you are lucky enough to have walked part or all of the Appalachian Trail, you've walked on an idea that came to fruition. Benton MacKaye pioneered the idea of a national trail in 1921. The trail was completed in 1937. Who is Benton MacKaye? MacKaye was born in 1879 in Stamford, Connecticut. His early life was spent in New England before the family moved to New York in 1885. They often left New York for Shirley Center, MA, to escape the busy city. While living in Washington, D.C., MacKaye often visited the Smithsonian and volunteered to help scientists in their labs. He attended Harvard from 1896 through 1905 and obtained a degree in Harvard's new school of forestry. After graduation, he taught at the forestry school and worked for the National Forest Service. His work in forestry led to the scientific evidence that was the basis for the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. He was a forest examiner and wrote a text entitled "A Theory of Forest Management." MacKaye passed away on December 11, 1975, at the age of 96. He was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2011. Accomplishments & Legacy MacKaye is most known for his 1921 article An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. The goal of the piece was to preserve wild lands in the Eastern United States to complement the land being set aside in the West. In 1935, MacKaye founded the Wilderness Society with Aldo Leopold and Bob Marshall. The Wilderness Society is dedicated to preserving wild spaces. MacKaye served as both vice-president and president of the Society. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association was created by a group of people who wanted to create the original footpath that MacKaye had proposed. Currently, the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a 300-mile footpath that intersects the Appalachian Trail (AT). It runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Big Creek Campground on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The charter of the BMT states that the trail is to be a primitive trail to honor MacKaye's desire for wild spaces. "If these people were on the skyline, and kept their eyes open, they would see the things that the giant could see." - Benton MacKaye, 1921 More Quick Facts He was married briefly to Betty Stubbs, a suffragette. He visited Shirley Center, MA, frequently throughout his life as it was a source of refuge for him. Has been called the "Father of the Appalachian Trail". MacKaye's biography was written by Larry Anderson and is available from Johns Hopkins University Press. Photo Credits: Jess Burns and Melissa Hollingsworth Do you have a favorite conservationist who has positively influenced our environment? Let us know below! Stay tuned each month for more blog posts about conservationists and their impact on our community and the world we share.

This is the first post in the monthly conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist's life, notable accomplishments, and ways the conservationist connects to kids. Environmental activist. Writer. Inventor. Ecologist. Travel Enthusiast. The next time you visit a national park, you have conservationist John Muir partially to thank. Muir, often referred to as Father of Our National Park System, helped found five national parks in addition to founding the Sierra Club. Who is John Muir? Born in 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland, Muir immigrated to the United States when was 11 years old. He and his family settled in Wisconsin. While living in Wisconsin, his curiosity and ingenuity led him to many inventions he would eventually show at the Wisconsin State Fair, including a horse feeder, table saw, and even a catapult-like device that tipped him out of his bed each morning before dawn (which sounds much more effective than a traditional alarm clock)! While Muir was a good student, he left Wisconsin after completing just three years of college. Instead of continuing a traditional education, he traveled the northern United States and Canada, picking up odd jobs along the way. One of these jobs left him with an eye injury that blinded him for a month and proved to be life-changing. After regaining his sight, Muir began experiencing wanderlust and longed to see the world. He walked 1,000 miles from Indianapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. He sailed to Cuba and Panama and ultimately settled in California (though he would continue to travel the world). His travels even took him on an extended trip to the Amazon when he was 73! "The mountains are calling and I must go," Muir said. A Love of Nature Even with Muir’s wanderlust tendencies, he embraced the nature of the United States, and he was especially passionate about Sierra Nevada and Yosemite. Through his observations of Yosemite, he found living glaciers. His theories stated that Yosemite’s geological features were developed by this glacial activity. Besides his role in the development of Yosemite as a national park in 1890, Muir was also involved in the creation of parks for the Grand Canyon and Sequoia regions. “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and places to pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul," Muir said. Muir also kept journals of his travels, writing about the beauty he saw in nature and drawing sketches of plants, animals, mountains, and landscapes. Accomplishments In addition to helping create some of America's national parks, Muir also founded an organization dedicated to preserving the environment so its beauty could be enjoyed for generations. The Sierra Club's mission, founded in 1892, strives to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. More than 100 years later, the Sierra Club is the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. More than two million members and supporters help live out Muir's original mission of the Sierra Club. Muir also authored articles and books detailing his travels and philosophies. His 1901 book Our National Parks gained the attention of former President Theodore Roosevelt and led to a historic meeting of the two men where they discussed conservation programs. (Theodore Roosevelt will be featured in a future post in the conservationist series.) “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks," Muir said. Connecting to Kids Want to teach your own children about John Muir’s legacy? There are plenty of ways to accomplish this! State Quarter Coloring Page If your children like to color, this activity will appeal to them! Print out a coloring page featuring the California state quarter (released in 2005), which highlights Muir and his love of nature. Find the coloring page here. Children’s Books Muir himself was the author of 10 major books, but there are also books that have been written about him for a children’s audience. The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks (Barb Rosenstock) In this book, children can learn about the historic three-day camping trip taken by Muir and Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Camping by themselves in an uncharted area of Yosemite, the two held discussions that would lead to the creation of our national parks. (Recommended ages: 6-8) John Muir: America’s Naturalist (Thomas Locker) Featuring quotes from John Muir’s actual writing and fully illustrated pages, children ages 4-8 will especially enjoy this book. This inspiring book will teach children about the values John Muir held so dearly. Note: This book is part of an illustrated series of books by Thomas Locker introducing the young and old to great Americans who loved and wrote about the land. Create a Nature Journal John Muir kept journals about his adventures in the wilderness, and kids (and adults too) may enjoy keeping their own nature journal! Write down your thoughts on hikes and draw the beauty you experienced. You’ll have a great memento when your journal is finished! To download a printable nature journal template from the Sierra Club, click here. Quick Facts There is a minor planet named in his honor, Johnmuir, discovered in August 2004. The tiny planet measures just 1 mile in diameter. Muir is featured on the California state quarter along with Yosemite and a condor. Muir got to camp for three days with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Muir had an adventure on an Alaskan glacier with his friend’s dog, Stickeen. A world-traveler, Muir visited every continent except Antarctica. Muir Woods National Monument, a grove of redwoods north of San Francisco, is named in Muir’s honor. Muir was married with two daughters. He greatly enjoyed walking with his girls and experiencing nature, which we all still enjoy today through Hike it Baby. Muir died on December 24, 1914, in Los Angeles. Do you have a favorite conservationist that has positively influenced our environment? Share your thoughts with us below! Stay tuned each month for more blog posts about conservationists and their impact on our community and the world we share.