“If you love the land, it’s time to make a plan to vote,” says award-winning filmmaker and outdoorsman Jimmy Chin in the two-minute long video Common Ground, above. Released yesterday by Protect Our Winters (POW), the video urges those of us who play in the outdoors to vote together and protect the places we play. “No matter who you are, if you love the land, you are a part of the Outdoor State. 50 million people strong, not defined by borders or party lines but by passion for places we love.”
As a California resident as well as a member of this “Outdoor State,” the message hits home this year more than any other. Confronted by massive wildfires throughout California and coming off of a pretty dismal snow season that was cut short by COVID-19, climate change and its effects on the places I play are hard to ignore. If you’re like me, Jimmy Chin, and 50 million others throughout the United States, no matter where you live, what you look like, or what your party affiliation is, the outdoors is our common ground and it’s worth protecting.
Visit MakeaDamnPlan.org to make your plan to vote. This online tool will guide you through the entire voting process, whether voting by mail or in person, and can help you navigate unseen obstacles like additional paperwork and needing an excuse to vote by mail in some states (spoiler alert: COVID-19 is a reason for everyone), even mailing your materials such as a stamped return envelope to register to vote by mail.
Editor’s Note: Protect Our Winters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps passionate outdoor people protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change. Founded in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones, POW is a community of athletes, scientists, creatives and business leaders advancing non-partisan policies that protect our world today and for future generations. For more information, visit Protectourwinters.org.
