Happy 4th of July

This morning was just like any other, but we all awoke knowing that this was a special day. Mentor hikes went by in a flash, as did our afternoon activities and right now, our campers are dancing in the front field for the evening program–Shindig.

Today is our Independence Day, and I cannot think of a better place to be free and able to live life the way we want to, with love, hope and the belief that we are making the world better. All over the country, we all have friends and family who’re together, just waiting for the first explosions in the sky to bring the night alive with color and light. Tonight, on the Preserve, we’ll be taking a more subtle approach to celebrating the anniversary of the nation. This year we will keep true to our mission and leave the land as it is, without debris or incredibly loud noises. I mean, think about it, we are a nature camp that supports an incomparably diverse wildlife habitat. Imagine you’re one of any species of life that exists here, and then imagine what goes through your mind when the sky turns to fire and the earth shakes with a powerful surge of sound even louder than the closest thunderclaps. Then think about all the pieces of debris that fireworks create! It is a mess, to say the very least. So we will welcome the night of July 4th with a series of floating bio-degradable lanterns, both friendly to our land and our wildlife.

Story and Photos by Brandon S. Marshall