October Tip: Wide Open Spaces

As Ken Burns reminded us with his latest documentary (watch it here until October 9th!), America is unique. We invented the idea that we should set aside large tracts of beautiful wilderness, entrust this land into the public trust for, as the gate at Yellowstone National Park says, "The Benefit and Enjoyment of the People." It's something we take for granted now, but the efforts of our forefathers to set aside millions of acres of land for the enjoyment of the people and the protection of the natural resources and wildlife in the park can't be honored enough. And part of going green is contributing to the preservation of our wild spaces. It's time to get involved in protecting the undeveloped places in your area.

There are two pain-free ways you can help:

• Visit the parks. Pay the entrance fees. Buy the season passes for state and city parks. These funds keep the parks running, give the park managers budget flexibility to make improvements to the parks. And the investment is a small one that will revive and enrich your life.

• Donate your time and energy to the parks. Groups like the Sierra Club, the Yosemite Fund (which fights to preserve what could be America's most majestic park) and others work to protect the green places. Consider Sponsoring a Wild Place with the Sierra Club. Or visit your local or state park and volunteer some time for a trail clean-up or some other preservation activity.

As you take the steps to lend greater support to the wild places in your area, allow the words of John Muir to encourage your effort: "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike."