Influence

My grandma Helen taught me to knit when I was 16. I was a reluctant learner and did it out of respect for her talent and obligation to her as an important influence on my life. Almost 30 years later, I knit every day, if even for 15 minutes, and I am grateful for this direct influence on my life.

Our sons grew up hiking in National Parks - and monuments, historic sites, and recreation areas - for our summer vacations. They were usually agreeable (though sometimes the promised ice cream got them higher on a mountain peak or to yet another rock formation), and we wondered if perhaps the many hikes and the weeks spent in nature would somehow influence their life choices. With two young men in environmental science programs, the answer is clearly yes.

Kids and families will be well-guided in the National Parks with the new book by Erin McHugh. NATIONAL PARKS: A KID'S GUIDE TO AMERICA'S PARKS, MONUMENTS, ANS LANDMARKS is organized alphabetically by state and features at least one destination for each (in addition to mentioning others). Many of the National Park posters created between 1938 and 1941 are included, and the other artwork follows a similar style and color palette. For each destination, there are ranger facts, birdwatch ideas, statistics, and "amazing but true" textboxes. It is a excellent resource, and I hope it will influence others to explore the nation's parks.