Free Republic

A frequent slogan heard in the outdoor community is “keep public lands public.” The catchy #KeepItPublic and #PublicLandOwner hashtags accompanying this mantra are heavily populated on social media. Over the last few years, public lands advocacy has gone mainstream. Seizing upon this momentum, outdoor retailer Patagonia, for example, publicly waged war on former President Trump—accusing him of being a despoiler of natural resources.But where are these vocal advocates today when public lands access is actually under attack? (Crickets.)Public lands belong to us. And efforts by the Biden administration to curb access—under the guise of health restrictions or to incrementally ban...

Source/ Brad Luttrell/GoWild A few years ago, I was a beta tester for a new phone application marrying social media with the Great Outdoors.  Naturally, I was intrigued. There were few social media platforms catering to fishing and hunting interests at the time. Nobody appeared to have the market cornered. And this company, even in its infancy, had an ambitious goal to take it by storm. That company is Louisville, Kentucky-based GoWild—an outdoor start-up guaranteed to pique one’s interest.Why The App is Catching FireAgainst many competitors in the space, GoWild has effectively navigated the digital wilderness—especially as content becomes more politically divisive and concerns...

Our Nation is blessed with abundant natural beauty that can be enjoyed every season from coast to coast.  During Great Outdoors Month, we celebrate the majestic mountains, forests, canyons, beaches, and rivers that provide recreation and renewal for all Americans, enriching our lives and strengthening an enduring connection to our national heritage.Our parks, recreational areas, and public lands are some of our greatest national treasures.  For centuries, Americans have looked to the sprawling expanse of America’s outdoor spaces as a source of adventure, sustenance, and inspiration.  From the lands and waters that constitute our National Park System, to State,...

Have you heard of the "Great Outdoors Initiative"? Across the country, White House officials have been meeting quietly with environmental groups to map out government plans for acquiring untold millions of acres of both public and private land. It's another stealthy power grab through executive order that promises to radically transform the American way of life. In April, President Obama issued a memorandum outlining his "21st century strategy for America's great outdoors." It was addressed to the interior secretary, the agriculture secretary, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. The memo...

As June draws to a close and we enjoy the first weekend of the Summer of 2006, let's go back and remember some of the marvelous places we've been in summers past -- especially those times from yesteryear that still evoke fond memories of sights, sounds, and smells from places all across this great land of ours.Hope you can all find time to post some wonderful stories, photos, and music here on this weekend's thread! Victoria Delsoul and I will be serving as your hosts this weekend. Check out the descriptions and photos below from a few of my favorite...