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The Future of the Republican Party

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When asked about the future of politics, blogger Elizabeth Shay chose to write about the future of the Grand Old Party.

By Elizabeth Shay

There’s no doubt about it, the question on every Republican’s mind is: What does the future hold for the GOP? In the wake of the Trump presidency, one thing’s for sure; we definitely have not heard the last of him. The general consensus is that “Trumpism is here to stay,” says Washington lobbyist and longtime GOP campaigner Ed Stewart (Cityam.com). Trump’s highly passionate group of supporters won’t just disappear into thin air. Commentators are convinced that Trump will continue to be extremely influential within the party in the coming years, whether it’s through a new position as a kingmaker, or a re-run in 2024, “reinvigorated after four years of tweet-sniping from the sidelines” (Commondreams.org). This would not be the first time a president ran non-consecutively; Grover Cleveland was successfully reelected in 1893, four years after his initial term. It is not in Trump’s nature to roll over and die, and he will likely emerge in four years to launch another campaign, which poses the question of whether he will be the Republican nominee. But is there any Republican who could pose a viable challenge to Donald Trump, who has “so dominated the thinking of the Republican Party for the past four years that there hasn’t been any more room for new leaders to emerge, for new ideas to emerge to counter Trumpism or offer an alternative view point [sic] or way forward” (Stewart).

Anyone who attempted to emulate Trump would probably not be successful and may not garner the needed support from his base. His unique rhetorical style and image as a businessman and not a traditional politician are part of his appeal. In a panel sponsored by USC regarding the future of the Republican party, conservative journalist Bret Stephens mentioned Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas as a possible contender for the 2024 election, referring to him as: “Trump with a higher IQ.” Stephens calls Cotton the “most intelligent expositor of Trumpist ideals,” and “other than Trump’s family, the most perfect heir” to the presidency. If this is the case, Tom Cotton may be the necessary person to retain the ardent Trump supporters while regaining some of the more moderate Republican votes that went to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Author and historian Douglas Brinkley, also on the panel, made an interesting statement, referencing a possible ticket with Nikki Haley at the top. In order to placate Trump not to run, the ticket could also include Donald Trump Jr. or Ivanka Trump as VP.  This retains Trump’s base while moving in a more moderate direction. Several other panelists expressed support for former UN ambassador and Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, including Karl Rove and Bret Stephens. Another popular name was Dan Crenshaw, a representative from Texas and former Navy SEAL. 

In order for the mainstream Republican party to become more moderate, they’d likely have to experience multiple electoral losses over the course of several years. However, as the country’s demographics rapidly shift, the party may not be able to afford losses in multiple election cycles. States that have been traditionally red, including Texas, Arizona, and Georgia became critical swing states and are projected to remain that way in the future. In order for the GOP to remain alive, they need to move closer to the center quickly, as time is not on their side. Karl Rove stresses the need for the party to build on diversity, regain the suburban vote, and take a strong stand against QAnon. Trump surprisingly expanded the Republican voter base, and saw increased turnout amongst Latinos (especially Cuban Americans), African Americans, and the white working class. In order to win future elections, the party needs to retain and expand upon these votes. 

When you think of the GOP, the word “young” does not exactly come to mind. Bret Stephens says that Trump may have turned away young voters from the party for the rest of their lives. Members of Gen Z tend to lean left much like millennials (NPR). Nevertheless, conservative youth groups such as the Young America’s Foundation and Turning Point USA have significant membership, demonstrating a presence of young Republicans in the country. The Republican party needs to expand their young voter base in order to even be remotely successful in the coming years. According to The Atlantic, “. . . in 2024, the two younger generations are expected to equal the older ones as a share of actual voters on Election Day.” The Democrats have attracted the attention of younger generations in part because of their election of diverse leaders, in terms of gender and race. Interestingly, the average age of the Democratic leadership in the House is 72 years old, compared to 48 years for Republicans (Quorum).  And just this year, 25-year-old Madison Cawthorn won North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, becoming the youngest Republican elected to the House (New York Times).

How the Republicans will proceed remains to be seen. The ideological future is uncertain for both parties, and only time will reveal the answers to the questions that remain unanswered. One thing is certain, these years will definitely be studied closely by future historians. 

Sources:

‘Trumpism is here to stay’: The future of the Republican Party

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/11/13/biden-will-fail-bring-back-normal-politics-whats-needed-now-populism-left

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/02/908350700/generation-z-in-the-gop-young-republicans-reflect-on-the-future-of-their-party

https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/the-115th-congress-is-among-the-oldest-in-history/

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/millennials-and-gen-z-will-soon-dominate-us-elections/616818/

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

The Squad: Who Are They and What Future Do They Represent in American Politics?

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The election has just (almost) concluded. Although we appear focused currently on the here and now, Editor Jake Sonderman chooses to look to the future of American politics. He’s assigned the Blog Staff to investigate and ruminate. Sara looks at an important up-and-coming group and ideology in American politics.

By Sara Habibipour

The Squad is a group of four women of color in the House of Representatives known for their efforts to push Washington Democrats towards more progressive policies. The four Congresswomen–Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts–seemed to gain more popularity on social media after their comebacks to Trump’s derogatory remarks regarding their heritage. He falsely implied that they weren’t American and suggested they “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” (CNN). 

But, these women have made it clear they aren’t going anywhere. In fact, all four were recently re-elected.

Who Are They?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) (Rep. of New York’s 14th Congressional District–the Bronx, Queens, and Rikers Island)

AOC became the youngest woman (and youngest Latina) ever elected to Congress after defeating ten-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley (CNN). 

In addition to being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she introduced the Green New Deal, which “outlines the framework for combating climate change by creating millions of jobs in new green industries as well as transitioning to new energy sources and building new infrastructure” (Ocasio-Cortez.House.Gov). 

She has also worked with others, such as Bernie Sanders, on more progressive ideas like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and student loan forgiveness. She has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to the harsh conditions in our southern borders’s detention centers (CNN). 

Rashida Tlaib (Rep. of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District–Detroit and its surrounding areas)

Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress. Like AOC, Tlaib has embraced Progressive ideas like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, debt-free college, and the abolishment of ICE. 

She has also gained a significant amount of social media attention after her controversial comments regarding sanctions and boycotts on Israel. 

Ilhan Omar (Rep. of Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District–Minneapolis and its surrounding areas)

Ilhan Omar is the first Somali-American ever elected to Congress. She and Tlaib are also the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress. She came to the United States two decades ago after fleeing her homeland as a refugee. She then became a US Citizen at the age of 17 (CNN). 

Similar to AOC’s journey to politics, she ran with the support of the Justice Democrats (a Progressive political-action committee). She is also a proponent of Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, tuition-free college, and $15 minimum wage. 

Ayanna Presley (Rep. Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District–Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding areas)

Pressley is the first black congresswoman to represent Massachusetts after defeating twenty-year incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano (CNN). 

Pressley’s passion for politics greatly stems from personal experiences. For example, she often speaks about her father being incarcerated for much of her childhood and how she is a rape survivor. 

Pressley is also known for speaking out about the poor conditions of detained migrants at the Texas border, and she has called upon Democratic lawmakers to take action. 

How Do These Women Represent the Future of Politics?

According to the New York Times, the Squad represents a more inclusive and representative future of politics. “The Squad understands that ‘diversity’ is meaningless if the measure of success is ‘sameness.’ The Congresswomen are choosing to do politics a different way because they recognize that Congress has never worked for their communities.” By bringing in voices from communities Congress has never heard from before, it is possible that the future of politics will finally serve communities of color rather than silence them; “…inclusivity means that people from different communities, backgrounds and ideological traditions will do their jobs differently and will bring new sensibilities, commitments and understanding with them when they sit at the tables of power. If they are doing their jobs, they will be accountable to people who sent them there, not maintaining the status quo” (The New York Times). 

The Squad also greatly represents the visions of the young people of our nation who tend to prioritize equality and climate change. Many say that the Squad’s ideas for Progressive policies represent the future of the Democratic party, even though the party seems to look more moderate at the moment. This is obviously frustrating for these Progressives, but according to Conor Lamb (Democrat Representative of Pennsylvania), more moderate policies are needed to unify the country in its current state (New York Times). The future could possess these ideals, especially as the younger generation starts to fill seats in Congress.

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/politics/who-are-the-squad/index.html

Image Sources: 

https://apnews.com/article/f80a96ce79934860936ebdc2127c28fc

https://i.insider.com/5fa2a2a469331a0011bc731c?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp

https://tlaib.house.gov/about

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/where-ilhan-omar-failed/596743/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/03/30/ayanna-pressley-democrat-committee

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

A Review of Braiding Sweetgrass

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For this week’s theme of “Wilderness,” Sara shares a favorite read that encompasses the beauty of nature, the learning of science, and the wisdom of indigenous people.

By Sara Habibipour

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants is one of my new favorite books. It is written by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Native American woman and biologist. As a botanist, the author has been trained to view the world and its inhabitants through a scientific lens. But, as a member of the Potawatomi nation, she teaches her students that there’s more to plants than just bodies; they have spirits. 

Plants have been on this earth longer than we have, so we must listen to them, especially if we want to save our earth from the destruction we humans have inflicted through our selfish activities. It’s not too late yet to reverse the damage we’ve done to nature. But, if we want to make positive progress, we must learn from those who don’t take nature for granted: the Natives. 

In the book, Kimmerer draws on her experiences as an indigenous woman and scientist to show how other living creatures all share their gifts with us. In order to gain a wider scientific and ecological understanding of what must be done to save our earth, we must learn to appreciate each being’s gifts. Not only that, but we must show appreciation for these gifts by giving back and establishing a reciprocal relationship with the earth. It is only then that we can restore our lost relationship with nature. 

In Potawatomi culture, there is a practice called The Honorable Harvest. It is a set of unwritten rules that guide how much to take from the earth so as to not deplenish all of its resources for future generations. 

In the culture, before taking anything from nature (a plant, a deer, etc.), one must not take the first creature they see; this ensures that an endangered species is not being killed. One must also ask the being if it’s okay to take its life. If there’s no sign or gut feeling that it should not be taken, then it’s okay to use. Finally, you must use all of what you take and share it with others so as to not waste any part of it. 

In a capitalist society, we are raised to believe that taking from the earth is normal. But, this book is trying to tell us that if we can just recognize the destructiveness of our greedy nature, then we can all “become indigenous” and save our earth. We can all give back.

If you love nature, and if you appreciate science, I highly recommend that you read this book. I’d love to discuss it with you!

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

Image Source: 

The Honorable Harvest: thinking more mindfully about what it means to be a consumer, forager, hunter, human

Why Don’t You Go Take a Hike?!

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Editor Hannah likes “being outside a lot.” She recognizes the benefits of the outdoors, so she assigned “Wilderness” as a topic for her Blog Staff. Evan, too, finds the outdoors beneficial. Let him explain.

By Evan Spry

As time has evolved, being out in the wilderness has become a lower and lower priority on the list of things to do. Nowadays, it is so low on the list of priorities it contributes to our growing unhealthiness. According to the CDC, in 2017-2018, 42.4% of American adults were obese (CDC.gov). I truly believe that, among other things, a lack of outdoorsiness hurts. It is so interesting that something that would seem so primal and instinctive would be this absent in most of our lives. The reason is that many of us would chuckle at the proposition of going to the wilderness with your friends or family just to be in nature. Many people would rather sleep on a comfortable mattress with a TV hanging on their wall with access to the almighty microwave than sleep in a sleeping bag on the ground with a campfire as your only heat and light source at night. I don’t blame these people at all. I mean, there is a reason all of us live in buildings with electricity and running water. Progress is a thing that is important. I don’t think the solution to our unhealthiness is to completely revert back in time and live in caves. The solution is that we should spend a chunk of time in the wilderness. The reason spending time in the wilderness is important is because when you’re really there, and all that is on your mind is adapting and surviving, you forget about all your “real world” problems and return to a primal state of acceptance and awareness. You learn to love and appreciate the natural world and its gifts. You live in the day and sleep in the night. You are surrounded by a completely different energy than that of a big city. It is an organic energy that feels refreshing and pure. Soon, you get used to living and surviving like your ancestors did so long ago. Every action you take to increase your chance of survival in the wilderness feels like a huge victory. Also, when you’re not distracted by the noise and light pollution of the city, everything seems right, everything is peaceful. It is dark out when it’s supposed to be and light out when it’s supposed to be. Something that most people don’t realize is that putting yourself through the nice experience of camping in the wilderness is an effective meditation. Like I said, you’re not worried about the problems of the “outside world” if you have to survive in the wilderness. When you are able to think about those problems, you have a much different perspective….You have the perspective of a survivor. So, I urge you to go out and experience the wilderness. Survive in it. If you don’t find an amazing and meditative experience, then I am sorry. However, I think it is important to connect to our natural world and rhythms.

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

Source Referenced:

CDC

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm#:~:text=Among%20men%2C%20the%20prevalence%20of,those%20aged%2060%20and%20over.

Wilderness Words

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Editor Hannah told blog writers to think about, write about, and embrace the “Wilderness.” Elizabeth searched the globe and found some of the most beautiful and unique nature/wilderness words from various languages.

By Elizabeth Shay

  • Feuillemort– (n.) the color of a dying leaf

Deriving from the French term, feuille morte (dead leaf), this word refers to the brownish-oranges and reddish-yellows seen as trees shed their leaves in the fall.

  • Petrichor- (n.) the smell of earth after rain

The word is Greek in origin. We don’t get much rain here in the desert, but, still, you can save this word for a rainy day. When it does rain here, the air is pungent with creosote and damp desert.

  • Frondescence- (n.) the condition or period of unfolding of leaves; foliage

From the Latin frondescere (to become leafy), this word describes a phenomenon that is reminiscent of springtime plant growth.

  • Weald- (n.) a wooded, uncultivated area; forest

This word was first used before the 12th century, in the days of Old English, as a general term for “forest.”

  • Nemophilist- (n.) a person who loves the woods or forests; a haunter of the woods

This word is obscure and hasn’t really been used for over 100 years. Not to be confused with: Dendrophilous- (adj.) loving trees; living in or on trees.

  • Psithurism- (n.) the sound of the wind through the trees and rustling leaves

This word is imitative, and ultimately comes from the Greek word psithuros which means “whispering.” Unfortunately this word is obsolete, but maybe we can help it make a comeback.

  • Gökotta- (n.) the act of rising early in the morning to hear the birds sing at sunrise and appreciate nature (rendezvousmag.com)

This is a Swedish word that is unlike any word we have in English and describes a specific concept so perfectly.

  • Komorebi- (n.) sunshine filtering through the leaves of trees (theculturetrip.com)

Social values, aesthetics, and culture are largely intertwined with the Japanese language. There is no English equivalent for this word which holds so much meaning in eight letters.

  • Shinrin-yoku- (n.) a visit to the forest for relaxation and to improve one’s health

This is another word from the Japanese language and translates to “forest bath.” The Japanese people often practice forest bathing, opening their senses and connecting with the natural world.

  • Waldeinsamkeit- (n.) the feeling of solitude in the woods

From Wald (woods/forest) and Einsamkeit (loneliness), this German word, much like the Japanese word above,  is about creating a one-on-one relationship with nature and refers to a very specific feeling. 

Hopefully you learned something new, and these words made you think about nature. Comment on this post, and then go outside!

Sources:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nemophilist

https://theweek.com/articles/442920/10-unusual-nature-words-should-use-more-often#:~:text=Psithurism%2C%20the%20sound%20of%20rustling,whispering%20or%20rustling%20in%20general.

Gokotta- Foreign words with Beautiful Meanings
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/20-japanese-words-that-will-make-you-think/

https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/

Words Beyond Translation: Waldeinsamkeit

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

The 10 Essentials

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Thinking of escaping into the wild this weekend? Jake has the essentials you should bring along with you.

By Jake Sonderman

For any backpacking or camping trip in the wilderness, there are 10 things you must bring. These 10 things could be the difference between life and death in a survival situation, but they could also be the difference between having a pleasant hike and being miserably uncomfortable. While I am no wilderness survival expert like some other people in the senior class, I have been a Scout since middle school and have recently finished my Eagle Scout. Early on in Scouting, you learn the importance of always having these 10 things on you when venturing out into nature. The Scout motto is “Be Prepared”; and with these 10 things, you will be prepared for anything the wilderness throws at you.

  1. Navigation

In the days of electronic navigation and GPS, maps have become obsolete. But, in the wilderness, batteries only last so long. While it is definitely smart to bring an electronic navigation device, you should make sure to not only bring a physical map and compass, but the skill to use them. Bringing proper navigation tools and knowing how to use them helps you to not get lost, which, in the wilderness, is very dangerous.

  1. Knife

Food, Fire, Shelter–the knife is the most versatile tool and absolutely necessary for feeding, sheltering, producing warmth. A multi-tool–like a Swiss Army Knife–is also very useful, though you should probably bring one or the other and not pack the weight of both. 

  1. Fire

Waterproof fire starters are a commonly forgotten item but 100% necessary for any trip. Fire is needed to cook food, melt snow, purify water, and provide heat, among other things. I always carry matches in a waterproof case, but a better option is probably a disposable butane lighter. The lighter is most waterproof. If water gets into your match case you’re pretty screwed. The lighter also gives you more lights than matches will. It is also a good idea for cold/wet weather to gather some dry tinder and put it in a plastic bag. This will make starting a fire significantly faster and easier. Another common solution is to put some cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly in a small container. They are good fire starters. Please do not forget this; it is so extremely hard to start a fire without a fire starter, and it is highly likely you won’t be able to do it your first try (I’ve never lit a fire without a fire starter). If you do find yourself without a fire starter, your best bet is probably to make a small bow to spin your wooden spindle. Check out this video on how to do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptkV1mYZU0 

  1. Water 

How much water you should be drinking will differ on where you are camping/hiking. Always, though, bring at least a one-liter water container and a way to purify more water–the best probably being water purification tablets. 

  1. Sun Protection

This is definitely the most forgotten item, especially in cold environments. It is always important to have protection from the sun not just to shield yourself from sunburn, but to prevent skin cancer and potential dehydration. Sun protection includes a lot of things, such as sunscreen, hats, clothes, sunglasses, etc. If you’re somewhere cold, you probably won’t need as much sunscreen because of your clothes, but the sun can still get you where you’re not covered and can even reflect off the snow to burn you. 

  1. Headlamp

This category used to be “light,” but headlamps are the best option for light by far, so you can do other things with your hands while you have light. It also is smart to bring some extra batteries for a longer trip. 

  1. First Aid

It is not only important to bring a first-aid kit but to know first aid, especially for wilderness situations. Also make sure that your kit is fully equipped. There are many short courses you can take to learn first aid, and getting CPR certified is a good idea, too. It would be good to know what to do for small and large cuts, shock, hypothermia, and dehydration.

  1. Shelter

The Boy Scout handbook actually says “rain gear” for this one, but many people put “shelter” instead, and I am inclined to agree. It is very important to carry a rain shell at all times because you never know when it will start raining. Obviously, your tent is also pretty important if you are camping, but make sure you also have the proper stakes and a rain fly for your tent to shelter you from the elements. It is also important to always have some small emergency blanket or, even better, a small bivy sack, which is basically a very small tent/sleeping bag. You should always have shelter ON you, and not just back where you set up camp. 

  1. Food

This varies on where you are going and how long you will be there. It is necessary to always have these certain ready-to-go foods on you: bars, nuts, dried fruit, beef jerky. Additionally, if you have a bunsen burner, or another way to cook food, then oatmeal, hot cocoa, and other small things are good options. Always bring more food than you need. 

  1. Extra Clothes

This obviously varies a lot depending on where you are going. For every trip I always bring an extra pair of socks (trust me there are not many things worse than hiking in wet socks). For cold trips, some long underwear isn’t a bad idea either. It adds an extra layer. 

Bonus: Duct Tape

This one was listed in the Scouting magazine, and I instantly thought “of course.” Duct tape has come in handy so many times, mostly with fixing water containers and clothes/tarps. While this might not sound huge, having a leak in a tent or your water bottle can be absolutely devastating, leaving you or your stuff totally soaked.

Note: All of these things are totally necessary, but it is also important not to overpack. Overpacking only applies to backpacking, not car camping. The right weight for a loaded backpack is about 20% of your body weight. There are pretty lightweight options for all of the items listed above, and it is smart to split up different items like your tent and food if you are camping with multiple people. 

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

Sources:

https://scoutingmagazine.org/2019/08/the-10-essentials-a-21st-century-update/
The Scout 10 essentials: Items every Scout needs in the outdoors

https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/what-are-the-ten-essentials

The Boy Scout Handbook(2012 edition). 

The Great Mothers

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Editor Hannah Hall tasked the Blog Staff to write about “da Earth.” Blogger Erik Bearman chose to write a poem about how he views Mother Nature and Mother Earth as similar but separate deities.

By Erik Bearman

Mother Nature and Mother Earth

In Their ethereal beauty, two women of mystery

Both agents of chaos, both brutal, ferocious, and savage

Two sides of the same coin

Mother Nature does not have sympathy for her children

Her one house rule: eat or be eaten

In her amber eyes, only the fittest should survive

Extinction after extinction, Mother Nature still survives

Extinction after extinction, Mother Nature still thrives

Mother Earth is a different kind of rage

As blood flows through my kin, magma flows through Her veins

Skin the color of stone, sand, and mud

And as follicles connect beneath the flesh

So do roots connect beneath the dirt

Plagued by creatures who wither, crawl, and consume

The Great Mothers are ravaged by the ultimate parasite

If we, the Parasite, do not change our ways

The Mothers may smite us with Their godly might

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

Local Music: Life Beyond the Classroom

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PVS students have active lives beyond the classroom. We acknowledge their accomplishments in “Life Beyond the Classroom.” Jake is on his way to being a producer of ground-breaking music.

In case you didn’t already know, I, Jake Sonderman, run my own studio with Luke Sonderman called Sondy Studios. Over the summer, I recorded Pescaterritory’s 9-song album in the extra room in our house. The album contains every type of rock and roll, from the nostalgic song I’m Fine to the hard rock hit Running Away. Whether you are pining away for old times, or wanting something fresh and new, this album has what you are looking for. I had so much fun putting together this album, and I am proud to call this my first major release as a producer. Give it a listen.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/pescaterritory/1536349886

I don’t care about National Parks

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After months of quarantine, travel seems to be one of the things at the top of many people’s bucket lists. Blogger Hannah Hall only will go so far as to commit to travel via screen (but she does like the pictures).

By Hannah Hall

When Sara called upon us bloggers to write about our bucket lists, I was stumped. I hadn’t really thought about something that I am totally itching to do. And I honestly hadn’t cared. So, I’m not gonna sit here and boast about my complete, undying love for National Parks/Forests/Preserves/etc. But, I will share some nice pictures. Here, in my opinion, are the top 10 prettiest National Parks in our great nation. Maybe one day I will actually have the drive to go to these places, but, for now, I venture via the screen. 

10) Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska

Established: 1978 National Monument; 1980 National Preserve

Size: 2.7 million acres

Features: A peek into the ultimate walkway of the ancient nomads. Includes sights of animals migrating, hot springs, and granite—such as the gigantic rock pictured. 

Fun Fact: The American Lion used to prowl here. 

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9) Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Established: 2000 

Size: 32,572 acres

Features: This national park has hundreds of trails which weave through the sights of waterfalls, hills, and ravines. It’s most popular sight is Brandywine Falls, which sits at an impressive 65-feet tall.

Fun Fact: The Lenapé Nation used to inhabit this land. 

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8) Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Established: 1975 

Size: 218,200 acres

Features: Here you can find many lakes. You may even find people exploring the water by kayaking in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. My personal favorite feature is the fantastic display of the Northern Lights—as pictured above. 

Fun Fact: The island in this park is called Little American Island because George Davis discovered gold in the surrounding lake, which was dubbed a little American treasure. 

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7) Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Established: 1978 National Monument; 1980 National Park and Preserve 

Size: 13.2 million acres

Features: There are many glaciers, ice fields, and shield volcanoes to be found here. You may think ice and volcanoes do not belong in the same park, but these volcanoes are not the explosive kind. 

Fun Fact: The Malaspina Glacier which can be found in this park is “North America’s largest piedmont glacier” (nps.gov).

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6) Glacier National Park, Montana

Established: 1910

Size: 1.1 million acres

Features: Here you may find unique mountains carved out by the glaciers of the past. You can also see animals like lynx, grizzly bears, and bison—but beware because there have been attacks from wildlife. 

Fun Fact: You can visit this park online through its webcams on the National Park website (or you can click this link here).

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5) Biscayne National Park, Florida

Established: 1980

Size: 172,971 acres

Features: Swamps, coral reefs, and fishies are the main attractions here. Speaking of fish, there are other living sights that include manatees, cacti, and sea turtles. 

Fun Fact: As you can see from the photo above, you can go snorkeling. When submerged, you may explore the “the Maritime Heritage Trail, the only underwater archaeological trail in the National Park Service system” (nps.gov).

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4) El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico

Established: 1903

Size: 28,434 acres

Features: This park is special because it is the only tropical rainforest in the entire system of national forests. In the forest you can see lush trees, green mountains, and rushing waterfalls. 

Fun Fact: This is the largest public land chunk in all of Puerto Rico!

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3) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

Established: 1996

Size:1 million acres

Features: This park is just larger than Delaware, and it includes many slot canyons adorned with beautiful stripes. In fact, the deepest and longest slot canyon in the US in this park; its name is the Buckskin Gulch.

Fun Fact: Many fossils of dinosaurs have been found in this park. Most notably a 30-foot long, 10-foot-tall Gryposaurus!

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2) Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Established: 1899

Size: 236,381 acres

Features: Mountains, wildflowers, and glaciers are the draw of this park. There are also many waterfalls and meadows surrounding the land that you can hike to visit as well.

Fun Fact (or, not so fun): One of the worst mountaineering accidents in American history happened here, where an avalanche tragically killed 10 climbers and their tour guide. 

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 1) Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

Established: 1916

Size: 1.1 million acres

Features: I think it pretty obvious that this park is just volcano galore. But other than eruptions, there are hiking trails that visitors can travel through as well. 

Fun Fact: This national park is very strongly associated with Pele, the volcanic deity. “She is embodied by the lava and natural forces associated with volcanic eruptions” (nps.gov).

Bucket List Editor: Sara Habibipour

Sources Referenced:

https://www.nps.gov/bela/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm

https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque/

https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/escalante.htm

https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

https://www.nps.gov/articles/pele.htm

Where in the World is Evan Spry?

by 2 Comments

Many people put traveling on their bucket lists, but oftentimes we don’t know why. Read more to find out why Evan is so passionate about traveling and why you should travel as well. 

By Evan Spry

Because of the insane world events that have transpired in the last five years, I became interested in geopolitics. Thus, I  want to travel the world. I want to travel because I want to learn about different cultures around the world and how the cultures influence each other. I guess you could say that traveling is on my bucket list. 

At first, I thought that I should be an investigative journalist/reporter that does stories abroad. But I soon realized that this was much harder than it sounds and especially difficult in current times, economically. I still think it would be an awesome job because I have always loved writing about things and having the experience of raw exploration. This desire for exploration stemmed from my commitment to the Indiana Jones movie series. I was hypnotized by the energy of the action and adventure, and I also adored the historical and cultural circumstances that were involved. If I could, I would be a modern-day Indiana Jones. However, I’m not saying that my series wouldn’t be one short and relatively dull episode. Anyways, I do want to travel, I’m just not promising that I’m gonna take out Nazi armies while I’m at it, although I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity. 

I know, though, that traveling is important for me because it pushes me out of my comfort zone while making good memories. I also want to be involved in politics in the future, and I don’t want to fit into any stereotype of an oblivious American that has never been out of the country. I think being well-travelled teaches you a lot about the world and how it works, and I want to know these things! Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, I can’t really travel anywhere safely. I think I will instead get more in-touch with my nature/wilderness side and go camping or something. Somewhere not here, but not too far away. That kind of experience of camping and moving around in mother nature gives me similar fulfilments to traveling and seeing new parts of the world.

All in all, I need to travel, see Africa, Europe, the Middle East, anywhere. I need to do this because there is definitely something about it that fulfills my soul. You will learn that the popular media may misrepresent a certain group or area for the worse, and the people you encounter there are really not as bad as you’ve been told. Now, I’m not saying that it would be wise to go hiking in the tribal areas of Afghanistan, but you should go out and try to meet people of different cultures to gain an understanding of a perspective that you may, personally, never have encountered. Therefore, traveling the world and experiencing different cultures is at the top of my bucket list.

boo

Bucket List Editor: Sara Habibipour