Sometimes a flag represents more than the fabric it's made from. Sometimes it tells a story.
This week, as I walked the grounds of the National Scout Jamboree with the Department of the Interior's Great American Expedition flag, I was struck by the curiosity it inspired. Scouts stopped to ask where the flag had been, where it was headed next, and what it represented.
Those conversations gave me hope.
What struck me most was how quickly the flag became a conversation starter. Before long, we weren't just talking about where it had traveled - we were talking about America's public lands, our history, and why these places matter.
The Great American Expedition reminds us of something we all share: a remarkable system of public lands, national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, rivers, and historic sites that belong to every American. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Department of the Interior is sending a single flag across the country to visit the landscapes and historic places that define our national heritage. At every stop, Americans are invited to become part of that story.
For me, that story is personal. I live in Virginia, where reminders of our nation's history are part of everyday life. It's not unusual to drive past a Civil War battlefield or visit a place where the course of our country was changed. Every time I do, I'm reminded that these aren't just historic sites, they're places where we can connect with the people and events that shaped America. That's one of the reasons I've always believed our public lands are among our country's greatest treasures.
That perspective made standing alongside the Great American Expedition flag at this year's National Scout Jamboree especially meaningful. As the presenting sponsor of the Range & Target Activities program, The 1791 Foundation has the privilege of engaging with Scouts from across the country. Watching them gather around the flag reminded me that every generation deserves the opportunity to experience these places for themselves.
Watching Scouts gather around the flag also reminded me that conservation isn't something we're born understanding. Someone has to take us fishing. Someone has to teach us to shoot safely. Someone has to bring us to a battlefield, a national park, or a wildlife refuge and explain why it matters. Those moments shape us, and they're how the next generation of conservationists is created.
There is no substitute for standing on historic ground, hiking a national trail, or watching wildlife in its natural habitat. Those experiences build a connection to our country that no textbook can replicate.
I've spent much of my career working with organizations that care deeply about conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and introducing young people to the outdoors. Over the years, I've seen firsthand how those experiences build confidence, responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation for America's natural resources.
That work has also reinforced something I've long believed: conservation is one of America's greatest success stories. Long before conservation became a political talking point, hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts were voluntarily investing in wildlife restoration, habitat conservation, and public access. Through landmark initiatives like the Pittman-Robertson Act, generations of Americans built the funding model that has restored wildlife populations, expanded recreational opportunities, and preserved the public lands we all enjoy today.
Too often, those stories go untold.
That's exactly why The 1791 Foundation exists. We believe America's heritage is worth preserving, not only through education, but by giving young people opportunities to experience the outdoors, participate in the shooting sports, learn responsibility, and become good stewards of the freedoms and natural resources we've inherited. We also believe that when young Americans develop a respect for our public lands, our wildlife, and our constitutional freedoms, they develop a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship. Conservation, outdoor recreation, and civic responsibility go hand in hand.
Public lands are not abstract policy debates. They are places where families make memories, Scouts discover confidence, veterans find peace, hunters and anglers pass traditions to the next generation, and millions of Americans experience the freedom that comes from time spent outdoors.
As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we have an opportunity to celebrate more than our history. We can renew our commitment to the landscapes that define America and to the uniquely American conservation legacy that has made those landscapes accessible for generations. That work cannot belong to government alone. It requires partnerships among nonprofits, volunteers, sportsmen and women, conservation organizations, youth groups, businesses, and millions of Americans who care deeply about preserving our outdoor heritage.
That is why initiatives like the Great American Expedition matter. Secretary Doug Burgum and the Department of the Interior deserve credit for creating an initiative that encourages Americans to rediscover the places that tell our nation's story. I hope the Great American Expedition continues to inspire those conversations long after America's 250th anniversary has passed.
If even one Scout leaves this Jamboree with a greater appreciation for our public lands - or decides to visit a national park, volunteer for a conservation project, or introduce someone else to the outdoors - then this flag will have done exactly what it was meant to do. The Great American Expedition reminds us that every journey begins by carrying something worth protecting. I hope this remarkable journey inspires more Americans, especially young people, to visit these places, learn their stories, and embrace the responsibility of preserving them for those who follow.
That's a legacy worthy of the flag we carry.
– Peter Churchbourne, Executive Director of the 1791 Foundation
EDITOR'S NOTE: If you'd like to own your own Great American Expedition Flag you can order one here.