What do you think of when you hear the word desert? Desolate? Barren? No. The desert is so much more than that. Rugged mountains, spiky trees, dark skies, sharp rock, red cliffs, Native American heritage… these are some of many elements that make the California desert a such place of wonder. These are things worth protecting.
The Department of the Interior and BLM want to reconsider the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, and the California desert needs your help.
From monument reductions to budget cuts, it’s not news that our public lands are under attack. Inspired by the beauty of America’s natural resources, Oscar Nilsson and Alex Tatem decided to find ways to increase funding for public lands: through art.
They recently launched their new project, the Art Rangers, a platform for photographers to sell their work. All proceeds go to the Art Rangers’ first partner, the National Park Foundation.
I sat down with founder Oscar Nilsson to dig into all things Art Rangers. Read on to find which parks inspire him and what he’s excited to accomplish with the Art Rangers.
I grew up in a household where it was bad to speak up. I was raised to accept things as they are. To never question authority. To never get involved. To never rock the boat. To sit down and be quiet because someone else is always right.
That mentality kind of, sort of stuck with me throughout the years. While I’ve never been fully checked out, I’ve also never dove in deeply to support a cause or an organization. I donate money from time to time. I volunteer from time to time. But I wanted something more.
After last year’s election, I wanted to do something. Now, I run social media for the Bay Area Climbers Coalition.
With the holidays dead ahead, it’s time to start thinking about gifts for family and friends. I love the process of giving presents, and thinking about things people would really adore. I’m not big on giving stuff if it’s not meaningful. I scoured the internet to find a few items that I would really love. So, I present to you, six gifts for the outdoor advocate in your life.
Today, June 8, is a day you might call a monumental day. Today is the anniversary of the Antiquities Act, which gives the President of the United States the authority to designate national monuments from federal lands. 101 years ago today, our government thought that America’s public lands were worth protecting. Today, that isn’t the case.
I got the chance to sit down with Tommy Caldwell and talk about our public lands and what they mean to him, and thought it’d be a fitting conversation to publish today.