As many of you are aware, this past Saturday was National Trails Day. To commemorate, I was planning a special hike with my daughter Jovanna (Jo) for the past few months. I knew this hike would be especially meaningful for me, because Jo is getting ready to be married in two weeks.

The bond between father and daughter is very special. Jo was our first child, and as a new dad, I remember the powerful feelings I felt from the moment she was born of simultaneously wanting to protect her and show her the world. I wanted every day to be an adventure full of learning and opportunity.  

 

The Forest Service has blessed my family with many opportunities to live and work in some of the most special places our country has to offer. But with those opportunities, as any “Forest Service kid” will attest to come many challenges as well. Moving from school to school, having to form new friendships while hoping to remain connected to those you are leaving behind…these are heady things for children to deal with at any age. One of the ways my daughter and I dealt with life’s many challenges was to often go on long walks or hikes. Sometimes the hikes were on National Forest System lands (the McKenzie River Trail on the Willamette and the Metolius River on the Deschutes were two of our favorites), but oftentimes they were on state or county land, or simply the nearest city trail.

That’s the wonderful thing about trails. They are easy to find and accessible just about anywhere you find yourself. You don’t need a lot of equipment or lengthy preparation to go out and enjoy them. Those walks with my daughter were some of the most special times of my life. Trading stories about current challenges at work and school, contemplating if we would ever move back to be closer to family before they grew up and, of course, sharing any special successes one of us might have had during the week.

So, on Saturday, we enjoyed a simple hike close to home at Devil’s Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wisconsin. The park was an integral part of my childhood and my children’s as well. It is a beautiful little 10,000-acre gem formed by receding glaciers and fed by deep, running cold springs. For the German immigrants who settled southern Wisconsin, it is said to remind them of the Bavaria they left behind. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does a marvelous job of managing the park. No motorboats are allowed on the water, so it’s crystal clear.

As we hiked the 500-foot bluffs and completed the 3-hour loop we were on, I realized one important thing as I watched my daughter confidently climb and navigate her way…she is ready to be on her own, and I could not be prouder. 

And I’m not just proud of my daughter, or what getting out on the trail together has done for our relationship. I’m also proud that, for the past few months, I have had the opportunity to serve as our acting national Recreation director. The job done by our recreation professionals over the past few years under the most trying conditions has been nothing short of spectacular, and I am humbled to be part of your team. I am especially proud of our Trails Program.  Our national Trails Strategy and the 10-year challenge are setting the example for how we can support the professional development of our employees while working with our partners to strategically and wisely investing with an eye toward the future. Our employees are dedicated to our mission, and the results of our work are never more visible than in areas like this—our work can directly help other families get outdoors and connect with each other.