Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the never ending noise and fast paced actions of western society? Concrete, plastic, noise, destruction, consumption? it never seems to end and it takes a huge toll on our human emotional, physical and spiritual well being.

I'm not sure I need to go to deep into research articles to convince anyone of the above truths. A quick google search will bring up numerous articles to read. But here you go for you worker bees from Entrepreneur believe it or not about taking work outside. And here's a recent article published by Yale University Forestry and Environmental Studies on Ecopsychology! 

And one of the greatest articles to read about this truth is "Take 2 Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning". shows numerous benefits from walks and experiences in nature (without your ipod or phone) decreasing stress hormones, increasing immune cells and calming of the prefrontal cortex our thinking area. It needs rest. 

Yet, reading articles does nothing to get you into nature and out on an adventure by yourself or with family. Take a moment right now just stop and imagine a trip into nature into fresh air and being surrounded by beautiful colors no car or western noise to find just pure natural sounds of the wind, birds, squirrels the music of nature.   

Take a moment and think how can I and my family reconnect with nature today? are you in a city find a park hopefully not to crowded so you can find a safe space to just sit and observe the trees, grass, flowers, birds and any other nature and wildlife. Can you get out of the city? no question the effort to do so will rep great rewards to your emotional, physical and spiritual happiness. 

And while you're at it take a few moments to locate a local organization that supports and works to keep nature, wildlife and wild places in and around your area protected. Remember the "butterfly effect" anything you can do will make a difference not only for you but for future humans on this one planet. This is a fantastic way to get yourself out into nature and connect with others who understand the benefits of being involved in the natural world.

Last, PLEASE not only be respectful of others that may be out for nature yet also the places you visit. At a minimum use the Leave No Trace 7 Principles for your natural wildlife and wild places experiences so these places and wildlife remain healthy as well. 

And as always remember...

​Explore On 

Dr. Scott W. Poindexter Chief Adventure Officer/Founder, BoldlyExplore

that cover 52.2 million acreas, more that anyone could ever cover in a lifetime. Amazing Right!  

​And every year millions of people travel to and visit these parks and never really understand or appreciate what it has taken, what it still takes and most importantly will continue to take for these national treasures to survive.

What each of us does before, after and while visiting any national park can either help or greatly damage these national treasures. The nature, wildlife and natural resources inside the parks. 

What you'll get from this blog post to help your travel plans

​are great tips on how to get the best experience out of your trip to  national parks. As well as do more than just visit by "making a difference" while visiting and after you leave the national park(s). 

By now, I hope you’re all familiar with my mission… to cross the states from west to east in a bid to raise awareness of the need for more wildlife crossings in our country. However, it can’t just be down to me. I need your help in bringing more of these crossings to the problem highways.

There is a proposed wildlife crossing that I am excited about, for the Upper Rio Grande Valley. The National Wildlife Federation is working with the Colorado Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and other partners, to establish federal protections for wildlife habitat connectivity. The corridor would cross three national forests: Rio Grande in Colorado, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and the Carson and Santa Fe in New Mexico. Some of the incredible species that will benefit from the corridor will be elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, pronghorn, lynx, black bear, mountain lions, and the rare Rio Grande cut-throat trout.
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My first state to cross was Washington. The state completed the I-90 Keechelus Lake Wildlife Overcrossing in fall 2018, which has already documented animals such as deer, coyotes and small mammals using it. There are also a few underpasses around Gold Creek, Snoqulamie Pass, Keechelus Lake, Rocky Run Creek and Resort Creek, that benefit both fish a wildlife.
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My next stop on my walk is Montana, and I hope to see some of the pronghorn and greater sage-grouse that currently are offered protection during their migrations across The Northern Great Plains. The corridor extends from Montana into Canada, support the longest migrations for both species.

​​I’ll also be walking through Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, home to the largest distribution of mammals in the lower 48 states. Wyoming proudly have the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer corridor, which supports the longest mule deer migration in the U.S. 

Hopefully these inspire you to want to save some of your local wildlife, that are often involved in road accidents. 

Get behind the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act: an important legislation that will be a huge step towards improving wildlife movement in the United States. It is currently referred to Congress’ Committee on Environment and Public Work. Tweet them to ask them to push Senate Bill 1499.
 
Sign the petitions. It only takes a minute. We’ve listed some of the ones currently online:
Wildlife Crossings in Colorado:
http://www.wildi70.org/i_support_wildlife
​Wildlife Crossings in Georgia: 
https://www.change.org/p/johnny-isakson-georgia-wildlife-crossing
Wildlife Crossings in Indiana: 
https://www.change.org/p/evansville-city-mayor-evansville-environmental-protection-agency-evansville-parks-and-recreation-implement-the-construction-of-wildlife-crossings-within-in
General wildlife crossings in US/Canada: 
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/300/596/513/wildlife-crossing-bridge/
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Contact your local congress men and women, to ask them to get behind the implementation of wildlife crossings. Do your research, and find the problem roads and highways in your area, if you’re not sure where to suggest a crossing should be erected. If there is data to backup the number of vehicle collisions on the proposed road, have it available to show them.

Find your local senator.
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​Remember, when approaching decision makers, its always best to make sure they understand the cost implications and benefits. A great example is the Dead Man’s Flats underpass on the Trans-Canada Highway, which was constructed in 2004. Large mammal vehicle collisions in the five years prior to the underpass being implemented, averaged 18 per year, which is around $154,000. In the five years after the underpass was constructed, there were less than five large mammal vehicle collisions per year, which equates to around $21,000. 
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​Support the local and national organizations, who are working towards implementing more wildlife crossings. Here are the ones I’ve come across during my mission:
Washington: Washington State Conservation, Conservation Northwest
Montana: Montanans For Safe Wildlife Passage (MSWP)
Wyoming: The WYldlife Fund, Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) 
Colorado:  Rocky Mountain Wild, Colorado Wildlife Federation
 
Watch this 25-minute safety training program, brought to you by the Forest Service. It’s aim is to help you reduce your chances of having large animal-vehicle collisions, especially with deer.
 

By far one of the most fun and rewarding ways to enjoy the outdoors in your own area or while traveling is to get involved with an event to save endangered species. The Great Grevy's Rally in Kenya, Africa is one of those amazing, fun, exhilirating and fulfulling experiences. It's a part of the great work that the Grevy's Zebra Trust does to keep this beautiful animal on our one planet. I was blessed to be traveling in and around Kenya and found out about this event through other world travelers

A simple internet search can bring up different events and organizations today/now look around and find one that you'd like to get involved with you won't be disappointed. Here's an example with a quick search I found citizenscience.gov and inside found inaturalist.org. There are many ways to get hands on involved, think about what nature and wildife are important to you look locally or globally. 

​What an amazing weekend tracking and photographing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. They definetly have personality and it was on full display throughout the weekend. We'd observe them playing with each other as well as other species which hang around them. Why you ask do different species hang out is because the more eyes the easier to spot a predator in the area so it's a community project watching out for one another. Just like this event is a community project and I made life long friends hanging out with like minded special people of Kenya!  

​The Great Grevy is one of only 2 zebra species in Kenya, the other the plains zebra is not endangered yet has depleted numbers as well. 

Every 2 years, so the next one will be early 2026 (mark your calendar) the Great Grevy's Rally brings together scientists, conservationists, environmentalists and citizens you and me (citizen scientists)  to count the Zebras by photographing as many Grevy's in their habitat as possible over a weekend.

The Grevy's Zebra Trust does many other activities to entrust the future of these animals as well as the other animals their existence affects. One of those great ways it Schools & Scholarships educating the leaders of tomorrow of why Zebras are an intregal part of the ecosystem that sustains human life. Yet, they can't do it alone and they need help more than ever.
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Don't wait look around your area, reach out to local conservation organizations and others to see what opportunities they may have. Even better maybe reach out to a local or regional wildlife organization and "create your own event" inaturalist.org is an example to learn and create your own project to bring awareness to an endangered or valuable(they're all) species in your region. 

Check out these Earth Loving Organizations I have listed for more ideas. If you know of any please send me a quick note so I can add it to my list and/or this post. 

So get out there roll around return to nature and while doing it make a difference so nature is here for many generations(your decendants) to come.

​Explore On
​Scott    

 "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased; and not impaired in value".
President, Theodore Roosevelt