John Muir (1838-1914) was a famous and influential naturalist with a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the interconnectedness of all life. He is sometimes referred to as "The Father of our National Parks," a "Wilderness Prophet" and a "Citizen of the Universe." In 1892, John Muir and other supporters formed the Sierra Club "to make the mountains glad." John Muir was the Club's first president, an office he held until his death in 1914. Muir's Sierra Club went on to help establish a series of new National Parks and a National Wilderness Preservation System.
Indeed in both his life and over one hundred years after his death, the teachings of John Muir remain with us. IslandWood knows this deeply, as we have our own outdoor education roots grounded in this legacy! When you walk into our Welcome Center, the first thing you see is an art fixture - a giant sawblade with one of John Muir's most famous quotes, "Tug on anything and you'll find it connected to everything else." This is the basis for ecology, and a systems-thinking approach to both natural history and conservation. Ecology is taught in school now, but it was a game changer in the scientific community not too long ago.
We invite you to meet John Muir on December 10th, as he is respectfully impersonated by Tom Banks, a U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service Ranger for over 30 years. We're so pleased to welcome Tom's theatrical talents to IslandWood as he personifies the spirit of John Muir, and takes us back in time to the forests of Washington, as they would have been seen in the eyes of John Muir more than one hundred years ago. Please bring your questions and "John Muir" will answer them - this is an interactive storytelling experience perfect for all ages. Children are most definitely encouraged to attend.
