Geotourism Center Planned

Coulterville, CA – A newly formed non-profit group has received $75,000 to create a John Muir Geotourism Center (JMGC) in the town of Coulterville.

The money was provided through a grant from the Graf/Pulvino Family Trust. The goal of the JMGC will be to help future generations appreciate the global impact that John Muir, a conservationist, had on the world.

According to the press release the JMGC, “Will provide learning opportunities for geotourists, students, parents and anyone concerned with environmental issues seeking to enrich their visit to Yosemite National Park and the region.”

Robert Hanna, the great, great-grandson of John Muir, is a member of the Advisory Committee. The Board of Directors President is Mary Ann Huff, former President of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce, and the interim executive director is Miguel Maldonado. Maldonado is the Vice President of the Yosemite Gateway Partners, a nonprofit that has met quarterly since 2003.

The immediate goal of the board is to secure a physical site for the John Muir Geotourism Center. The JMGT plans to create both a “Range of Light” multi-purpose outdoor classroom and a youth education program, jointly developed to bring together urban and rural students in a natural setting. They also want to offer geotourists the opportunity to learn about the historic John Muir Route through Bean Creek Preserve nature walks.

John Muir information can be found at http://www.johnmuirhighway.net