Speaking with a Forest Service ranger a few weeks ago, he made an interesting statement: "They aren't yours, they are ours." This hit me pretty hard and as something profound. They aren't mine, they are ours. This statement, I feel, adds to the gravity of the responsibility we all have for their protection and preservation long term.
...On our hike, we came across a camp that had been used the night before littered with all sorts of trash. Despite our complaints of fatigue and hunger, our scoutmaster made a point to give us a teaching moment. I remember his words well; “boys, I know you’re tired and want to get to our camp, but first we need to leave this spot better than we found it.”
While I may not be able to change the minds of those who simply don’t care, I have worked hard to spread the message of Leave It Better, which encourages those who do care and who are responsible to take a proactive approach to help combat this problem.
