Aldo Leopold, born in 1887, is considered by many to be the father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation. In his day, he was a visionary, inspiring readers with a call to action to embrace the “Land Ethic.” His essays asked people to combine their care for humanity with care for the land and nature--to act honorably and ethically for the common good. He wanted man to treat land as a community to which we belong, not as a commodity to be used up. Essays by Leopold emphasize harmony rather than exploitation. Indeed, his “Land Ethic” is a moral responsibility of humans to the natural world.

Come hear Leopold’s conservation writing at the Community Reading of his book “A Sand County Almanac,” published in 1949 (one year after his death in 1948). The book has become a conservation classic, with more than 2 million copies sold worldwide and translated into 15 languages.

Members of the Cheboygan community will be reading sections of the book. The powerful readings are intended to build a sense of “place” and help build a bond among community members to inspire critical thinking about our natural world—and how we must work to protect it.

A limited number of complementary copies of “A Sand County Almanac” will be available during the program. The presentation will also feature refreshments and live music.

The Community Reading is presented by the Cheboygan Area Public Library and made possible by a grant from the Aldo Leopold Foundation. This event is also an Earth Week Plus Adventure. Tickets are not required. All are welcome to attend.