, 14 tweets, 4 min read Read on Twitter
The poppy super bloom in California has brought a lot of (positive and negative) attention to how people experience the outdoors and @leavenotrace ethics: a thread. #NoPoppiesWereHarmed
1/13
The most important thing I've noticed is how many people are doing their best and want to do what's right - they just need a little education. Some people are a total lost cause and don't care at all, but we don't need to focus on them right now. 2/13
As part of this reminder, I want to share my story. Everything I learned about experiencing nature, I learned in @girlscouts. Of course we always left our campsite better than we found it, but I didn't know anything about LNT. My family wasn't outdoorsy. 3/13
The first time I ever stepped foot in a national park was in college. On a whim, my sister and I decided to go camping. We showed up in flip flops and without a reservation, let alone a map, water bottle, proper food storage, or any idea how to set up the tent from Wal-Mart. 4/13
I cringe thinking about how badly it could have gone. But any time I tell this story, I also get a little choked up. This camping trip was the moment I fell in love with the National Park Service. For the first time, felt like I had some direction, some greater purpose. 5/13
If Instagram had been a thing & strangers had publicly attacked me, I would be telling a very different story. I never would have given myself the chance to make mistakes or taken years to build my confidence and skills (and gear bag!) for recreating on our public lands 6/13
Today, I'm a park ranger & LNT trainer who does workshops for scout/community groups. I see in these people an eagerness to experience the outdoors with childlike awe. We have to give them the chance fall in love with the amazing planet we live on - and to make mistakes. 7/13
When you see someone on social media who isn't acting outdoors how you think they should be, the first question you should ask yourself is whether you're interested in educating them, humiliating them, or are just policing them because they don't look like they belong. 8/13
If it's humiliation, just don't. 9/13
If it's education, make it a dialogue! Engage with them in private about their photo and what's going on. If they seem open, direct them to LNT or other pertinent resources. Let them research and explore. Answer their questions. Be kind. 10/13
If it's policing because they don't look like they belong, check out the amazing IG feeds from @unlikelyhikers, @outdoorafro, @fatfirlshiking, @melaninbasecamp, @indigenouswomenhike, @browngirlsclimb, @pattigonia, and @brownpeoplecamping. 11/13
After you've done that, take some time for introspection - why do you think these bodies don't belong or are doing something wrong? If the answer is racist, sexist, homophobic, ablist, or classist, it's you that needs a reminder that the outdoors are for everyone. 12/13
Think back to every time you did something wrong - threw an orange peel on a trail, pocketed a fossil in a national park, installed climbing bolts in a sacred space, hiked off trail in a sensitive ecosystem...how would you have liked to learn from your mistakes? How did you?13/13
As we learn to navigate outdoor spaces through the lens of social media, be understanding. We're learning together. We can be better together. We love the outdoors, together.
Missing some Tweet in this thread?
You can try to force a refresh.

Like this thread? Get email updates or save it to PDF!

Subscribe to NastyWomenofNPS
Profile picture

Get real-time email alerts when new unrolls are available from this author!

This content may be removed anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!