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​The Adventures of Marvin and Huck: A Journey from Childhood Imagination to National Park Exploration

10/12/2023

1 Comment

 

As a child, I was captivated by the world of imagination. I would spend hours playing with my stuffed animals, teaching them the ABCs and how to read and write. My bedroom would often become a makeshift classroom, much to the chagrin of my parents, who were less than thrilled about the occasional wall art I created with my crayons. But these stuffed animals, with their button eyes and soft fur, were my most attentive students. They never talked back or complained, and they listened to my every word with unwavering attention.

However, when my little sisters came into the picture, they took over the role of my eager learners, leaving my beloved stuffed animals behind. Yet, the memory of those sweet, silent students never faded. Among them was a raggedy old moose with only one antler, a cherished companion who I had a special connection with. This connection would later play a significant role in my creative journey.

My parents instilled in me a deep love for the great outdoors from a young age. Every summer, we embarked on family camping trips to the Great Smoky Mountains, immersing ourselves in the wonders of nature. While I didn't spot any moose during those trips, I fell in love with another iconic creature: bears. 

When I was older, I was lucky enough to fall in love with someone who loved the outdoors and camping as much as I did. So our tradition continued as we made our own little family together. We understood the power of these cherished moments spent in nature, and we wanted to pass that love and appreciation for nature on to our own children. So, we packed up our camping gear and took our girls to the Smokies, where we would camp under the starry night sky and explore the same trails that had filled our own childhoods with wonder. It was our way of creating new memories, forging connections, and ensuring that the love for national parks would be carried on to the next generation. 

Fast forward to 2018, my husband, Steve, and I embarked on an incredible adventure, working with national parks around the country. These experiences provided us with the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of these parks, learn from the dedicated rangers, and share our adventures through video documentation.

Throughout our journey, my childhood stuffed animals, especially the moose, remained in my thoughts. I decided it was time to give them names and personalities. Thus, Marvin the Moose and Huckleberry the Bear came to life in my imagination. They became our constant companions, even though they were only alive in our minds.

As we filmed our park videos, I couldn't help but weave Marvin and Huck into our stories through my blogs. These blogs became a way for me to pay homage to my cherished childhood companions and share the magic of the national parks with others.

In March of 2023, I received a challenge from my grandson, Oliver: to write a book about our visits to the national parks. Challenge accepted. I began compiling my blogs and the transcripts of our ranger videos, transforming them into book form. My creative journey didn't stop there. I tried my hand at Procreate, a drawing app on my iPad, and brought Marvin and Huck to life visually. To make them even cuter, I enlisted the help of a talented designer.

But there was still something missing. I needed a backdrop for my books that could truly capture the essence of the national parks. That's when I turned to Steve's stunning photography, which beautifully showcased the parks we had visited. With Marvin, Huck, and Steve's photographs, our books were ready to take shape.

To date, I have written seven books in our series, each one inspired by our countless adventures in the national parks. The words flowed easily, thanks to the rich source material from our blogs and video transcripts. My goal is to capture every single adventure we've had in the parks, and with over 140 experiences to draw from, it's a labor of love that promises to keep us busy.

When asked who our books are intended for, the answer is simple: everyone who loves national parks and harbors a childlike memory of these incredible places. It's a blend of nonfiction and whimsy, appealing to both young and old. One of the standout features of our books is the tie-ins to the UN Global Goals, reminding us of the importance of preserving these natural wonders for future generations. We also include "kindness" journals in each book, encouraging readers to reflect on the small acts of kindness that can make the world a better place.

A special firefly shows up on every page, serving as a reminder to be good humans and stewards of our planet. The Adventures of Marvin and Huck is more than just a series of books; it's a tribute to the beauty of the national parks and a call to protect and cherish them for generations to come.

So my journey from childhood imagination to national park exploration has been nothing short of magical. Marvin the Moose and Huckleberry the Bear have come a long way from my childhood bedroom, and we hope they inspire and delight readers of all ages as they embark on their adventures through the national parks. 
1 Comment
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  • Home
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    • For The Parks
    • In the News
    • Support Us
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    • Impact Stories
  • Our Services
  • Educators
    • Our Books >
      • Adventures of Marvin & Huck:
      • Lila & Toby: Into the Wild
      • Educational & Meaningful
      • Book Connections
    • Our Kits >
      • Family Outdoor Discovery Box
      • ParkQuest Engineering Kits
    • Expeditions in Education BLOG
    • Experience the Parks >
      • Experience Pullman >
        • Experience Pullman Blog
    • Great Lakes Odyssey >
      • Getting Started with GLO
      • Great Lakes Odyssey Travel Blog
      • Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
      • Voyageurs National Park
    • Math in Nature
    • Nature Pages
    • Preserve the Parks PBL >
      • Addressing Environmental Resilience in Puerto Rico
      • Protecting the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly
      • Creating Sustainable Communities Inspired by Pullman
      • Combating the Green Crab Invasion in Acadia National Park
      • Enhancing Sustainable Trails at Big Cypress National Preserve​
      • Exploring the Green River's Impact on Water Purity and Cave Preservation
      • Protecting Crater Lake's Endemic Newts
      • Restoring Native Trees at the Lincoln Boyhood Home
      • Restoring the Elwha River
    • Backpack the Parks!
    • Park Pioneers
    • Ready to Go Lessons
  • National Parks Expedition Challenge
    • Expedition Challenge Full List
    • Acadia to Bryce >
      • Acadia National Park
      • Alcatraz Island
      • Amache National Historic Site
      • Amistad National Recreation Area
      • Arches National Park
      • Assateague Island National Seashore
      • Badlands National Park
      • ​Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
      • Big Bend National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve
      • Biscayne National Park
      • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Cabrillo to Dry Tortugas >
      • Cabrillo National Monument
      • Cape Cod (ONE) National Seashore
      • Cape Cod (TWO) National Seashore
      • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
      • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
      • César E. Chávez National Monument
      • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
      • Channel Islands National Park
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore
      • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      • Dayton Aviation National Heritage Historical Park
      • Death Valley National Park
      • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
      • Denali National Park
      • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Eleanor to Fort Pulaski >
      • El Malpais National Monument
      • El Morro National Monument
      • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Everglades National Park
      • FDR Memorial
      • First State National Historical Park
      • Flight 93 Memorial Park
      • Ford's Theatre
      • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
      • Fort Monroe National Monument
      • Fort Pulaski National Monument
    • Gateway to Hot Springs >
      • Gateway Arch National Park
      • Gettysburg National Military Park
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Grand Teton National Park
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
      • Haleakala National Park
      • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
      • Homestead National Historical Park
      • Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
      • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana to Lincoln Memorial >
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Isle Royale National Park
      • Jewel Cave National Monument
      • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
      • Joshua Tree National Park
      • Kenai Fjords and Alaska Coastal Parks
      • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Lava Beds National Monument
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
      • Lincoln Home National Historic Site
      • Lincoln Memorial
    • Maggie to Pullman >
      • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
      • Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
      • Mammoth Cave National Park
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
      • Mesa Verde National Park
      • Natchez Trace Parkway
      • New River Gorge and Preserve National Park
      • Niobrara National Scenic River
      • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
      • Olympic National Park
      • Palo Alto Battlefield
      • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
      • Petroglyph National Monument
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Pinnacles National Park
      • Pipestone National Monument
      • Pullman National Monument
    • Redwood to Zion >
      • Redwood National and State Parks
      • Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Saguaro National Park
      • San Antonio Missions NHP
      • San Juan National Historic Site
      • Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
      • Shenadoah National Park
      • Tidal Basin-NAMA
      • Tumacácori National Historical Park
      • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site
      • Vicksburg National Military Park
      • Voyageurs National Park
      • Waco Mammoth National Monument
      • Wright Brothers Memorial
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Zion National Park
  • STEAM in the PARK
  • Crossing America