Greetings,
Thirty delighted Yosemite visitors came to hear about Geotourism, John Muir and the Historic John Muir Route (Coulterville, CA) on September 13th at the LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite National Park. Bonnie Gisel, curator at LeConte and leading John Muir expert, invited MaryAnn Huff, John Muir Geotourism Center (JMGC) President and Debbie Cook, JMGC Co-Executive Director to share news about the "All Things Muir" Festival. Part of their presentation included JMGC's mission to enrich the trip for tourists on their way to Yosemite National Park along Highway 132. Visitors from all over the world are invited to come to Coulterville and along the Historic John Muir Route through Smith Station on their way to Yosemite to play in nature and record their experiences.
 | | Yosemite visitors at LeConte Memorial Lodge with curator Bonnie Gisel during the JMGC evening event. |
Yosemite visitors during the evening at LeConte were asked to share one experience for their journals. Descriptions such as the shadows on Half-dome, the blue of the sky, floating down the river, the brightness of the stars at night, seeing a bear... were just a few of the nature stories shared. All agreed that when you stop traditional thinking is when you begin feeling nature in the truest sense. Exploring the area's lakes, rivers, creeks, from the foothills to the mountains and getting back in touch with nature, is what it's all about.
Also in September, Teri Graf-Pulvino, was able to spread the message of JMGC to ecotourism experts and travel writers at The International Ecotourism Society's (TIES) ESTC12 conference in Monterey, CA (September 16-20th). Seen below with Nicole DeJonghe, Senior Program Manager for the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Map Guide, many of the attendees at ESTC12 found the John Muir Highway Geotourism project of interest and welcomed the JMGC as a new member of TIES.
 | | Teri Graf-Pulvino ( Vice President, JMGC ) and Nicole Dejonghe ( Sr. Program Manger, SBC ) spreading the geotourism appeal at TIES ESTC12 conference. |
The JMGC was recently fully accredited as a charity donation eligible 501 (c)3 organization. The center is now seeking donations to fund a much expanded program that will be implemented and aligned with their not-for-profit mission - " The mission of the John Muir Geotourism Center is to enrich the natural and rural communities by inspiring people to explore, learn, share and preserve the values of the John Muir Legacy." Please visit the web site for John Muir Geotourism Center contact information.
Updates and news about geotourism themes will also be presented on the "ToMarket Geotourism Journeys" web site for tourism planners and geotourism vacationers.
Please share the newsletter with your friends and keep watching for the featured news and information about supporters of the John Muir Highway Geotourism project.
There is unique value for travelers to be gained from a geotourism approach to their vacation planning on their route to Yosemite National Park. The National Geographic Magazine definition of "geotourism" is important to remember as the summary of the insights and adventure mission - "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents."
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