Laura Naranjo serves on the board of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. — Valles Caldera National Preserve will always be my heaven on Earth. I’ve hiked almost every trail here, often multiple times. …

Lyndzee Rhine is outdoorswoman from Kansas. She serves on the boards of the Kansas Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation. — Grasslands in the Great Plains hold a special place in my heart, the Kansas Flint Hills and Tallgrass Prairies in particular. It’s because of the shallow, rich soil, and limestone studded landscapes that these spaces were saved from being turned into agricultural land. The Tallgrass Prairie once spanned over 170…

Lynn Ewing lives in Wisconsin and Joan Pamperien lives in Colorado. They both enjoy hiking, biking, and skiing on public lands across the nation. — The air tingled on our cheeks as the snow crunched beneath our feet. We were hiking on the Creekside Trail at the Experimental Forest outside Fraser, Colorado after an early November snowstorm. We had hoped to see some wildlife, but all we saw were tracks in the snow. Perhaps that…

Jacqueline Koch is a communications manager for the Northern Rockies, Prairies, and Pacific Regional Center at the National Wildlife Federation. — Sometimes, you get lucky in life. And that’s what happened to me when I traded Washington, DC for Washington state. I got hit-the-jackpot lucky the day I decided to swap the Beltway for the N. Cascades Highway. And I found true love… Yes, true love often shows up where we…

Maja Holmquist is a student at the University of Montana and a wildlife research associate at the National Wildlife Federation. — This summer took me to three of the nation’s natural treasures: Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Teton, and Isle Royale National Parks. Three completely different parts of the country, and each stole a bit of my heart. Let me give you just a glimpse of them! Great Smoky Mountains National Park…

Emily Heiman is an Artemis Ambassador for Louisiana and is part of the Kayak Bass Fishing community. She loves fishing and hunting on public lands. — I work in a very stressful field: law enforcement. If that wasn’t enough, I’m a female police officer in a world full of men. Public lands are where I go to burn off stress, calm my soul, and enjoy the beauty of nature. I hunt and fish. I wish I…

Jodie Provost is the communications director for the North American Grouse Partnership. — Have you ever wondered what it’d be like To be without public lands? To be without the managers that Care for them with devoted hands? Can you fathom a world Without a local WMA To hunker in a viewing blind, And watch prairie grouse display? A place with no shallow…

Cynthia Olson is the art director for Ranger Rick Magazines at the National Wildlife Federation. — I have been traveling to Canaan Valley, West Virginia, from the Washington DC area for more than 20 years. …

Alyssa Oshiro is the internal communications director at the National Wildlife Federation. — I told my husband I was going to write a love letter to the Pine Barrens, and he immediately recommended a book. “It will give you tons of historic context and anecdotes,” he said excitedly. “You will learn a lot. It will help!” He has clearly never written a love…