James Edward Mills

James Edward Mills is a National Geographic Explorer and a contributor
to National Geographic Magazine, a Fellow of the Mountain
and Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and
a recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education.
As a freelance journalist and an independent media producer in a career
that spans more than 20 years, he specializes in sharing stories about
outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving
and practices of sustainable living. He has worked in the outdoor
industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales
representative, writer, and photographer. He is the author of the new
book “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” and the
co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent”
James is a contributor to several outdoor-focused print and online
publications such as National Geographic, Outside, Rock and
Ice, Alpinist, SUP, Elevation Outdoors, Women’s Adventure, the
Clymb, Park Advocate, High Country News, Appalachia Journal, The
Guardian, The New York Times, Sierra and Land and People. 
With skills in audio storytelling James’ radio production credits include
Wisconsin Public Radio, the Public Radio Exchange, American Public
Media’s Marketplace, and the Public Radio International programs To
The Best of Our Knowledge and The Tavis Smiley Show.
In recognition for his work in sharing the important history and legacy of
the Buffalo Soldiers and their efforts at the dawn of the National Park
Service, James was named a Yosemite National Park Centennial
Ambassador in 2016.
In 2020 James's book The Adventure Gap was named by Outside
Magazine as one of the 10 "Outdoor Books that Shaped the Last
Decade."
Currently as a faculty assistant at the University of Wisconsin Nelson
Institute For Environmental Studies James teaches a summer course for
undergraduate students on diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor
recreation and public land management called Outdoors For All.

For more information visit James at http://www.joytripproject.com