I know that technically it is still winter but I have a full blown case of spring fever. I need a big nature fix.
My husband and I will head to Wyoming this May for a couple of weeks and not a day goes by that my thoughts aren’t on that trip. This will be my fourth trip to Yellowstone National Park and let me tell you it is nothing short of spectacular in the springtime.
I recently met a Tinley Park woman named Jodi Canter, who calls that spring fever “wanderlust” meaning the lust to travel. Canter had read an article that I wrote about the vacation that my husband and I took to Utah last year. On that trip we visited six national parks and several national monuments. She identified with the love of travel and nature that I spoke of. She knew that we were kindred spirits.
Canter calls herself a “national park junkie.” She has a serious passion for travel and the great outdoors. She visited her first national park about 18 years ago and her goal is to eventually see all 59. So far, she has been to 20 of them, Yellowstone being her very first.
She explained that even though the mindset in nature is to leave no trace or to take only photographs and leave only footprints, she feels that in visiting one of these parks you take so much with you — not physically but in your mind and soul. And just ibeing at the parks, you leave a piece of yourself.
This summer, Canter will head to Alaska to visit Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks, which is another reason why she contacted me. Last year, I started a program through the Tinley Park Historical Society, called Follow The Flag where Tinley Park residents can get a village flag from the society to take on their travels and get photos of themselves with it at landmarks and interesting places.
We then share the photos online and literally follow the flag all over the world. It is amazing where our flag has been and now it will be heading to Alaska.
The National Park Service will turn 100 on Aug. 25th and will be celebrating with many types of events throughout the year designed to create a new generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates.
There is no better time than now to visit one of our nations treasures.
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If you are interested in reserving a Tinley Park flag to take on your trip, contact the Tinley Park Historical Society at (708) 429-4210.