Some of my favorite memories from childhood are from hiking and camping in the Adirondack mountains.  And some of my scariest memories from childhood are also from hiking and camping in the Adirondack mountains!  But all of those experiences taught me some incredibly valuable lessons.  I learned self-reliance, determination, not quitting (because you really don't have that option in the wilderness) and an appreciation for the natural world in which we live.  As a "grown-up" I now realize how very lucky I was to have these experiences and how few children are quite so lucky. I am impressed by this organization's mission to make sure more children have access to the outdoors - and hope you will support me in my effort to support them!