There was once a father and a son, both enjoying life together. The dad and son decided one day to go on a trip to the WILDERNESS.

When they were walking through the woods, the dad watched his step and tried to not disturb the life around him, meanwhile his son pushed and shoved through, leaving behind empty water bottles and candy wrappers.

It was until they reached a river bank that the father witnessed this and pulled his son aside.

“Son” he said “The wild is a beautiful place that gives life to all than that just lives in it. It is our job to enjoy it and to also protect it.”.

The son replied, “You mean like not letting anyone inside and standing guard?”.

“No”, The father replied with a smile, “Anyone can enjoy this beautiful forest, but if we are to let future generations enjoy it as well, we must protect it.”

His son stared back at him, confused. “Let me show you son. Do you see this candy wrapper you left here on our path?” he said as they walked to where the young boy had dropped it earlier. “Look carefully at it and its surroundings, what do you see?”.

“Dirt?” answered the boy, unsure. “Hehe” the dad chuckled, “Yes and no, look closer, what or who do you see there.”

“I see an ant, by himself, and some grass under the bottle.”

You see my son, everything around you in this environment has a purpose. From the very rock and dirt we stand on that houses the ant to the very air we breath that allows the grass to grow greener. If we block one part of this system, another is affected which allows for less growth.

Think of the bigger picture here, there is one less ant to help the colony through winter, one less blade of grass that produces precious oxygen for all life to live. By taking care of earth, earth takes care of us and we are left with a beautiful outdoors for my son and your’s to see and breathe.

Always remember, we are visitors in this beautiful home and we must take care of it as our own.”

When his father was finished telling him the lesson, the son stood up and looked around. He quickly saw not a dusty and muddy landscape, but a beautiful outdoors that everyone could enjoy.

He walked up to every piece of trash he had dropped, while also watching his step to make sure and not interfere with nature, and placed it in his backpack to properly get rid of later.