Wilderness 50 Boy Scout Photo Contest Winners

This Summer Boy Scouts less than 18 years of age were invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by participating in the Camp Parsons Wilderness 50 Boy Scout Photo Contest. Each Scout could submit up to three (3) digital photographs that they have taken of or within the five Wilderness areas at Olympic National Forest.

Congratulations to the winners!

First Place overall winner:

Buckhorn Wilderness, by Austin Ulfers

 

Runner Up Winner from each of the following categories:

1) Sunrises/Sunsets, 2) Water Features, and 3) Landscapes

Sunrise over Silver Lake,  by Kaeden Brinkman

Reflection on Silver Lake, by Kaeden Brinkman

View from Silver Lake, by Kaeden Brinkman

The Wilderness Act

The Wilderness Act, signed into law September 3, 1964, established the National Wilderness Preservation System and set aside an initial 9.1 million acres of federal land as Wilderness for the use and benefit of the American people. Wildernesses are special places where the earth and its communities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are in control, and where people are visitors who do not remain. Today, the United States has 758 Wilderness areas. Wilderness provides habitat for fish and wildlife, protects clean air and water, allows opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, preserves iconic landscapes, and inspires awe and wonder.

Wilderness Photo Contest Background

Ninety years ago in 1924 Camp Parsons Eagle Scout L. Ron Hubbard at 13 years of age led hikes through The Brothers and Buckhorn Wilderness areas from Camp Parsons. He used one of the the first point-and-shoot cameras, (The Kodak Brownie Jr.) to photograph areas of the Wilderness for his Photography Merit Badge. The photographs have today been fully restored and presented to Camp Parsons for display and are the inspiration for this contest in the 50th Anniversary year of the Wilderness Act. Scouts will get the opportunity to improve their photographic skills for their merit badges and appreciate the history and value of Wilderness areas.