Transcript
What inspires you from WFSU Public Media? Here's this week's Voices That Inspire. My name's Doug Alderson. I do a few things. I'm a writer. So I've written several books about most of the outdoors and associated history. My day job, I work for the Officer Greenways and Trails, part of DEP, and I coordinate the state's kayaking canoe trails and help with other things with the office. Kind of dedicated my life to either working in some way with the environment and some way with the outdoors. And so all of my major jobs have been, in some way, either educating people about the outdoors, doing environmental advocacy work, taking people outside and enjoying nature, showing them the beauty of nature through paddling trips, hiking, that type of thing. So in some manner, writing about it, taking photos. And so I've just kept that up throughout my life and it just varies a little bit as far as what I'm doing, but that's always been my main background. Well, the incredible variety and depth of the natural world inspires me. And when someone I take out or they read one of my books and I get feedback like because of this, I enjoyed this place or I develop a deeper appreciation. Well, that makes me feel good. So that's part of my purpose. And so it inspires me to keep going, but I get inspired by nature and travel. I like to travel sometimes to other places in the summer, but I still come back home. I always like to come back home. This is still home. I love to explore this area. I think a lot of people are supportive of environmental issues and causes, but until they make that personal connection, it doesn't really hit home. Until they realize it's hard to buy a clutch called oysters. Why? You know, there's just certain things that connect with. So that's important to go out and actually experience the environment and see for yourself, experience it for yourself. I think then they'll take it a step further in whatever way they can in their lifestyle. My name is Doug Alderson, and I'm a writer and a naturalist. You're listening to voices that inspire.