That last point is especially key and really is the take home message for my audience. I try to empower them to take control over their own vacation; the overlooks are wonderful suggestions by the national parks, but they are by no means the only way to experience them. Find the reasons why you traveled in the first place and then find a way to record those experiences.

My little sister and I, while driving back to Michigan last summer, started taking photos of us jumping in the air whenever we stopped. Could we have just stood and smiled and still documented the place? Yes, but jumping was infinitely more fun.

Note: I’ve recently heard reports of visitors now jumping at the overlooks in the park and I can’t explain how happy and proud that makes me feel. To all of those educators out there, you know what I mean; often we never witness that effect we have on our students/audience members. I’m going to try to get visitors to e-mail me their pictures from now on and will post any I receive.

Thanks for listening/watching!