“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” –Rachel Carson During the most difficult times in my life, I have found comfort in nature. Not only in its beauty and serenity, but in the perspective I gain from its observation. I’ll sit alone on the forest floor, resting my back on an oak trunk, and watch birds collect materials for their nests, while ants near my feet work diligently at their tasks, and squirr

In 2015, one of the largest outdoor retailers in the country decided to take a stand against the consumer mania of Black Friday. For the past four years, REI has closed its doors on the Friday following Thanksgiving, encouraging its customers to spend the day enjoying the outdoors, rather than shopping. They dubbed this campaign #optoutside, and it has had an incredible ripple effect through the industry, gaining a following from other retailers, outdoors enthusiasts, and eve

I know some hunters who feel like they would rather just skip through summer, and as soon as turkey season is over, they’d arrive right back in a dove field or bow stand. Many sportsmen and women enjoy a well-rounded year outdoors with fishing and other water sports, but others suffer through the warmer months as if it were a punishment. While summer has never been my favorite season, I have come to appreciate it with a unique perspective. Perhaps the first, most obvious, or

Author: Emily Courtney “What could be more democratic than owning together the most magnificent places on your continent? …In America, magnificence is a common treasure. That is the essence of our democracy.” – Carl Pope These words were spoken in reference to America’s national parks, highlighting the uniqueness, and the inherent democracy, of the idea that a country’s natural wonders could be collectively owned by its citizens. The national park idea was born in the U.S. ar

Author:  Emily Courtney Throughout our years of experience managing habitat, serving landowners, and furthering conservation, we have noticed a growing need in the outdoor industry. As society is steadily becoming more digital, seemingly by the day, nature based companies are striving to find their place in increasingly crowded online spaces. Social media provides the opportunity for most any and everyone to have a voice, and the clamor is deafening. These digital platforms a

Author: Emily Courtney “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”   – Henry David Thoreau Most of my childhood fishing experiences took place in a 10 foot aluminum boat with my grandpa at the stern, myself at the bow, both with a fishing rig of some kind in hand, the details of which I can’t recall or maybe never knew. Most of these voyages took place on the mighty Pearl River, a fairly significant waterway that winds through

Author: Emily Courtney “Every April, God rewrites the Book of Genesis.”  -Author Unknown We often draw parallels between the renewal of spring in nature to a seasonal renewal in our own lives. In nature, flecks of green appear on tree branches, flower buds emerge, and tiny beaks can be seen popping up out of bird nests. As humans, we make New Year’s resolutions and engage in spring cleaning, trying to give ourselves a fresh start. The perspective gained through a nature based