All You Can Do is Your Best

Shelton Johnson, a park ranger with the U.S. National Park Service, joins in to discuss his career and life message.

Born in Detroit, Johnson’s fascination with parks started during a family trip to Germany’s Bavarian Alps. As a young boy, he recalls this visit as the point his awe for forests and mountains took off. After graduating college, he served with the Peace Corps before beginning his career with the National Park Service.

In the decades since, Johnson has pioneered many pathways helping connect minorities to the natural world. An advocate known for his research on the Buffalo Soldiers, he has inspired many ethnicities, particularly African Americans, to embrace their part in America’s early formation. From civil rights to national parks, Johnson not only hopes to encourage rising generations to discover their purpose, but also know their heritage in context of forestry.