“Every time I have the privilege to experience wilderness, my heart rate drops and my whole body smiles. Wilderness is majestic, beautiful, and offers many meaningful experiences.”

“These are places I physically depend on for clean water and clean air. And they are places I depend on for connection to friends and family, community, my favorite memories, and to a much bigger, wilder world.”

“I hope that advocates for wilderness in the future cast a wide net—across the political spectrum and various backgrounds—to protect these places but crucially make it so wilderness is not led by any certain group or background. Rather, I hope wilderness will be viewed as something that can be accessed, enjoyed, and loved by all.”

“Protection, protection, protection. We must do all that we can to work towards continued protection of our wilderness areas. Encourage our young folks to get out and experience what wilderness is so they can be the continued champions in the coming years to continue the work of protecting her.”