Visit AMC's America's Great Outdoors Initiative web page to learn more and find a listening session near you.

Send us a story!

Your stories are needed in the few weeks that remain of the information gathering phase of AGO. Every American is asked to share stories about their favorite places and what makes them important. From your back garden to the local river to the Appalachian Trail, speak out about what makes the outdoors special to you.

Send us a story of a memorable outdoor experience and a place that you love. AMC will compile all the stories submitted and send them to the Obama Administration. Pictures and links to YouTube videos are also welcome. Your story may also be selected to appear on AMC’s Facebook page or in AMC Outdoors Magazine.

Story Example: The Delaware Water Gap – My Favorite Place


I’ve never looked back from the fortunate day that I swamped my first canoe on the Delaware River at age 7.  From the sweeping vistas of Mount Minsi, the quaint historic town of Millbrook Village, the solitude of Crater Lake, the roar of Raymondskill Falls, to the 40 miles of Nationally designated wild and scenic river, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has always held my heart.   Growing up in the suburbs, the draw of adventure in the natural world has guided my spirit in ways that the concrete world never could and never did.   In the winter my family would daytrip to the Gap to track wildlife footprints in the snow.  In the summers, swimming, canoeing and hiking in the Gap was the quality time we would all look forward to.  

Having now grown up, moved away and in process of starting my own family, I find myself back at the Delaware Water Gap nearly every weekend sharing my favorite place with new loved ones.  There’s nowhere else I’d like to take my future son or daughter to experience their first bear tracks in the snow and their first swamped canoe.

Mark Zakutansky, AMC's Pennsylvania Highlands Coordinator