“How would you like to be a forester?” The question was posed by James Pinchot to his son. Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946) had just entered Yale, but the school had no forestry program. It was an odd time to ask such a question, but the question ultimately guided the young Pinchot to become one of the country’s greatest conservationists.
Born to wealthy parents in Simsbury, Connecticut, Pinchot, along with his younger sister and brother, were provided an excellent education. They were privileged enough to expound upon their bookish education with the experiential kind; they visited England, France, Italy, and Germany over a span of three years during the 1870s. During his time in England, specifically while visiting rural areas, Pinchot developed a love for the outdoors.
