Fast Facts:
- Road Trip and National Parks expert who is the first person to visit all 419 National Park Service sites in a single journey
- Named a "Social Media Warrior" by MTV for outreach & advocacy via the medium
- Most recent travel-advocacy project garnered $10 million worth of earned media, 1,500+ pieces from The Today Show to NPR
Ever dreamed of quitting your jobs and road tripping to all the United States national parks? That's what Mikah Meyer did on one epic, 3-year journey.
But not just to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or the 62 National Parks that have become ubiquitous with American travel. Mikah went to every National Monument, National Seashore, National Preserve and all 20+ designations that make up 419 sites in America's National Park System spread across 56 states & territories.
And he didn't just do it to check off a Bucket List item.
After witnessing his father pass away from cancer unexpectedly at age 58—and not get to experience retirement, then 19-year-old Mikah began saving money with a goal of using an insane road trip at age 30 to encourage others to complete their dreams before it's too late.
Coincidentally, the year Mikah turned 30 also happened to be the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (2016). However, that same year, even as companies like Wells Fargo, Oreo, and Marriott all had Pride Month campaigns, in the history of the outdoors recreation industry in America no brand had ever had a Pride Month ad.
Aware that being openly gay in a homophobic industry would be a liability, Mikah went back in the closet and tried to hide that he was gay as he needed crowdfunding and sponsorships from the outdoors community to financially complete this parks project. As word of his world record road trip spread to NPR, the Guardian, and over 1,500 news pieces around the globe, Mikah heard from LGBTQ+ people who encouraged him to create the openly gay outdoorsman that didn't exist.
After one particularly impactful message from a closeted teenager in the American South, Mikah stopped hiding his sexual-orientation and began posting photos on Instagram and in news outlets with rainbow flags in front of America's most iconic outdoor locations.
This focus on LGBTQ+ advocacy led Mikah to be named one of NBC's #Pride50 alongside queer icons like James Baldwin and Marsha P. Johnson, a "Social Media Warrior" by MTV, and in October 2018 made him the first openly gay man featured in an outdoors recreation campaign (with REI).
Mikah went on to fund the remainder of this parks project in perhaps the most unlikely of ways: guest preaching and singing for donations at 113 churches around the world. Sharing his story of growing up the closeted gay son of an award winning pastor, in a beautiful and unexpected twist further honoring his father who inspired this journey's launch. The Today Show learned about this portion of Mikah's journey, and featured it hosted by well-known national parks enthusiast Jenna Bush: https://youtu.be/UpryVn3S6G0
Mikah now shares the lessons of this travels around the world via multiple different programs for colleges, companies, schools and non-profits, including for the National Park Foundation at The Stonewall Inn as part of New York City's 2019's World Pride: https://youtu.be/X4-qo6XsFHc
Learn more at www.mikahmeyer.com or join his current adventures on Instagram @mikahmey
Fast Facts:
- Road Trip and National Parks expert who is the first person to visit all 419 National Park Service sites in a single journey
- Named a "Social Media Warrior" by MTV for outreach & advocacy via the medium
- Most recent travel-advocacy project garnered $10 million worth of earned media, 1,500+ pieces from The Today Show to NPR
Ever dreamed of quitting your jobs and road tripping to all the United States national parks? That's what Mikah Meyer did on one epic, 3-year journey.
But not just to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or the 62 National Parks that have become ubiquitous with American travel. Mikah went to every National Monument, National Seashore, National Preserve and all 20+ designations that make up 419 sites in America's National Park System spread across 56 states & territories.
And he didn't just do it to check off a Bucket List item.
After witnessing his father pass away from cancer unexpectedly at age 58—and not get to experience retirement, then 19-year-old Mikah began saving money with a goal of using an insane road trip at age 30 to encourage others to complete their dreams before it's too late.
Coincidentally, the year Mikah turned 30 also happened to be the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (2016). However, that same year, even as companies like Wells Fargo, Oreo, and Marriott all had Pride Month campaigns, in the history of the outdoors recreation industry in America no brand had ever had a Pride Month ad.
Aware that being openly gay in a homophobic industry would be a liability, Mikah went back in the closet and tried to hide that he was gay as he needed crowdfunding and sponsorships from the outdoors community to financially complete this parks project. As word of his world record road trip spread to NPR, the Guardian, and over 1,500 news pieces around the globe, Mikah heard from LGBTQ+ people who encouraged him to create the openly gay outdoorsman that didn't exist.
After one particularly impactful message from a closeted teenager in the American South, Mikah stopped hiding his sexual-orientation and began posting photos on Instagram and in news outlets with rainbow flags in front of America's most iconic outdoor locations.
This focus on LGBTQ+ advocacy led Mikah to be named one of NBC's #Pride50 alongside queer icons like James Baldwin and Marsha P. Johnson, a "Social Media Warrior" by MTV, and in October 2018 made him the first openly gay man featured in an outdoors recreation campaign (with REI).
Mikah went on to fund the remainder of this parks project in perhaps the most unlikely of ways: guest preaching and singing for donations at 113 churches around the world. Sharing his story of growing up the closeted gay son of an award winning pastor, in a beautiful and unexpected twist further honoring his father who inspired this journey's launch. The Today Show learned about this portion of Mikah's journey, and featured it hosted by well-known national parks enthusiast Jenna Bush: https://youtu.be/UpryVn3S6G0
Mikah now shares the lessons of this travels around the world via multiple different programs for colleges, companies, schools and non-profits, including for the National Park Foundation at The Stonewall Inn as part of New York City's 2019's World Pride: https://youtu.be/X4-qo6XsFHc
Learn more at www.mikahmeyer.com or join his current adventures on Instagram @mikahmey
Carpe Diem: Accomplish Your Dreams Before It's Too Late
During finals week of his freshman year in college, Mikah Meyer lost his 58-year-old, travel-loving father to cancer. After 11 years of taking an annual road trip to honor the retirement his dad never got, Mikah launched a once-in-a-lifetime dream in case his own life would be cut short. The resulting world record road trip made Mikah the first person to visit all 419 National Park Service sites in a continuous journey (3 years nonstop). Having paid his own way through college and...
Your Difference Is Your Strength: a Gay Outdoorsman's World Record
Have you been told being unique will limit your life opportunities? That being different will impact your ability to get a job or accomplish your dreams? After growing up closeted in Nebraska, Mikah Meyer turned his struggles into triumph by becoming the First Openly Gay Man Featured in an Outdoors Recreation Campaign (sponsored by REI) in an industry that traditionally ignored LGBT people. Through the lens of Mikah's 3-year, nonstop journey to America's 419 national parks,...
LGBT & Christian? One World Record Traveler's Journey
"You can't be gay and Christian, you have to choose." Growing up the son of a nationally-recognized minister, Mikah Meyer heard this statement his entire life. Yet after years of traveling the world and studying religion, his journey not only brought him to a place of acceptance for his unique identities, but allowed him to use the platform of his world record national parks project to be a light in the darkness for LGBT Christians around the globe. Through founding the...
Leading by Example: The Power of Authenticity
"It's hard to be what you can't see," civil rights leader Marian Wright Edelman said to a crowd of 30,000 youth. Except it was not the 1960s; but 2015, and her call for authenticity spoke to the continuing need for leaders that inspire others to blossom. One of the listeners in that crowd, Mikah Meyer, took these words to heart, and through a world record journey to all of America's 419 National Park Service sites gained unique insight into the type of leadership a digital...
2 recommend Mikah
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Penn State University
On-Site
A., Penn State University
Mikah was amazing! He was engaging and approachable and did a marvelous job of weaving together the various threads of his journey. His spoken presentation and media were both great, and I was struck by how the students who attended were clearly connected with him and his story. Both students and staff were able to relate to Mikah throughout the presentation. There were plenty of questions for him at the end, and after we finished, there were a number of students who made a point to talk to him directly. I really cannot say enough good things about the topics he engaged, the way he related to the audience and shared his complex and powerful story.
Penn State University - Hazelton
On-Site
A., Penn State University - Hazelton
I want to thank you for your presentation last night at Penn State Hazleton. The program was incredibly impactful, eliciting laughter, tears, thought provoking conversation and an intimate glance into the realities GLBT Christians. I wish you all the best as you complete your journey in a few days. I hope to see you back at Penn State Hazleton in the future.
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