On Monday we celebrated John Muir's legacy on what would have been his 176th birthday with the Filson Company, working together to raise awareness and further our mission of encouraging people to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. John Muir was a naturalist and a preservationist who founded the Sierra Club in 1892, just five years before the Filson Company began making and selling rugged clothing and gear for outdoorsmen. To this day we both strive to forge a connection between people and nature.
Connecting people to nature is where John Muir excelled. He founded the Sierra Club as a group of alpinists who loved mountaineering. And he was always an advocate, taking people outside to visit special places in hopes that it would move them to help protect those places. After more than 100 years, getting outside and into the natural world is still a great way to inspire and engage people.
It is with this in mind that the Sierra Club has provided opportunities for 250,000 people to participate in outings into the outdoors, and also why the Our Wild America campaign has created its Nearby Nature initiative. For many people getting outside is more difficult than ever as more than 80% of the country now lives in suburbs or cities. Protecting natural places near those densely populated areas is crucial to ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to explore the natural world and form those connections. They need accessible places to connect with family, friends, community, and the planet.
So thanks to Filson for helping us promote and engage people with the great outdoors. And a happy belated birthday to John Muir! We’ll keep working to ensure that his legacy lives on.