Forever Wild Tour - 2006 - Flyer

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Forever Wild - 2006

Introduction: Forever Wild & Walkin’ Jim Stoltz

Jim Stoltz is known across the nation as "Walkin' Jim". The name stems from the fact that Jim has logged over 26,000 miles of wilderness hiking on annual months-long backcountry treks through America's last wild places. When he's not at home or out walking, Jim travels the country with his multi-media show, Forever Wild, combining his photography, poetry, stories and live music – all working to motivate and inspire the public to care for its last wild places. For years, working with (and sponsored by) environmental organizations, colleges, schools, churches, and community and outdoor-oriented groups, this inspiring event has shared the beauty and the special character of North America's wilderness and the natural world. The Environmental Protection Agency recognized Jim's service with an Outstanding Achievement Award for "sharing nature and wilderness with others across America through your extraordinary words, images, and music."

The year 2006 will mark the 20th anniversary of touring America with Forever Wild. It all started from humble beginnings. In 1985, Walkin' Jim hosted a series of concerts in his local community center to benefit a program that provides children with cancer a week of outdoor activities in the mountains. For the last show in the series Jim decided he would perform a concert himself and try to make it special by putting many of his photos to some of his wilderness songs. It ended up being a full house, standing-room-only night, and the response was so positive that Walkin' Jim decided to take his show on the road. In 1986, Jim began touring America with his Forever Wild multimedia concert.

Since then, Forever Wild has promoted the saving of our last wild places, respect for environment, and protection of all of Earth's fellow species. Over the past twenty years Forever Wild has not only encouraged the public to get out into the natural world, but it has inspired people to care about and take action on behalf of our beautiful planet. Jim is particularly proud to know that the show, his experience, and his message have motivated several young people to actually change their life's direction and go to work for environmental organizations. Forever Wild is a unique concert, and the fact that Jim has been touring with it for so many years speaks to his success at being able to reach people.

"a memorable evening enjoyed by a comprehensive cross section of our community...those who attended the show could not thank us enough for sponsoring...
"first time our group ever sponsored an event that attracted so many people...energized our group...deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible."

- Gary Thornbloom, Newsletter Editor and Outings Chair

Moshannon Group of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club, State College, PA

What Others Are Saying About

Walkin' Jim Stoltz & Forever Wild

"...you come away from Jim's Forever Wild show with an added bounce in your step and a determination that you can make a difference for future generations... follows through and keeps you informed on wilderness issues once he leaves your community as well. It would be hard to find a better ambassador for wildlife and wild places."

- Larry Dolphin, Executive Director

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, Austin, MN

"Jim Stoltz is a music man of exuberance and passion, with more to say in one song than Frank Sinatra ever managed in a whole bloody concert."

- Edward Abbey, author

"...a rare and wonderful experience for all who attended ... engaged people on so many different levels ... literally opened their eyes, ears and minds ... awoke that part of their spirit that lives and breathes with the land."

- Doug Miller, Director

Folklore Village, Dodgeville, WI

"...a true advocate for wilderness values and really affects his audience... I was struck by an adult male coming up afterwards and telling of the tears he had during, and as a result of, his presentation. ...no one in the country doing exactly what "Walkin' Jim" does in the service of wilderness advocacy."

- Dr. Bob Ellinwood, Former Director

Fine Arts Series, Lynchburg College, VA

"...left a legacy of personal caring and inspired commitment to the well being of our planet. He managed to touch all of us, the youngest children to the adults, with an intimate experience of the link between our four-walled classrooms and the living beings of the wild."

- Martha Rogers, Music Teacher

Bowman School, Lexington, MA

"...brought wild places and a mountain top perspective to all of us.  He helped us to reconnect to the earth and all its wild creatures.  Swept us up into a celebration of life and an empowerment that we, too, can help preserve it."

- Susan Hoffman, Teacher

Crested Butte School, Crested Butte, CO

"... sends a great, cold cascade of fresh energy washing over folks ... each time he performs a benefit concert for Friends, we gain a whole big troop of new members. Walkin' Jim's music makes people believe. It inspires them to act. It changes people's hearts."

- Sharon Netherton, Executive Director

Friends of Nevada Wilderness

"...generated an incredible amount of enthusiasm afterwards. For weeks people were telling me how much they admired him and enjoyed the concert. We all felt fortunate to have seen his show ... contagious passion for wilderness, his sincere environmental message, wonderful photography and, not least, his fun and entertaining interaction with the audience."

- Richard Stanley, Vice-Chair

Sierra Club-Greater Hartford (CT) Group

Passages: Walkin’ Jim Stoltz Has Left The Planet

Posted on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 by » Sandy Compton
http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/passages-walkin-jim-stoltz-has-left-the-planet
 

Passages. He made so many. 27,000 miles and still counting, the last time I talked to him at Wild Idaho in Redfish Lake this past May. He came and sang his songs, howled his howls and treated us to his marvelous travelogue show, a uber-wilderness lover among a bunch of wilderness lovers, who among all of us might have hiked as far as he.
We have lost a treasure with a gravel voice, a shy smile and an endless insatiable urge to keep walking and working on behalf of wild places.

Walkin’ Jim stayed in my back yard a few years ago; deigned sleeping with a roof over his head for his skimpy tent and wandered off the next day, as he had wandered in, following whatever it was that kept him moving. “Whatever,” I suppose, was his absolute, unequivocal, unconditional love for wild places and the creatures that populate them.

Walkin' Jim Stoltz onstage at the
SandPoint, ID Panida Theater in 2008

Wherever he walked he was touched by what he walked through, and wherever he talked about these experiences, he touched those who listened to his bass treble voice and looked at his incredible pictures. Especially the children.

Earlier this year, Jim came to Thompson Falls and Trout Creek schools to work with the kids in the grade schools.
What pleasure it was to watch the kids light up, laugh and learn as he encouraged them to squeak like pikas, howl like wolves, growl like bears and joyously sing with him, “Come walk with me through the big pine trees, from the mountain tops to the shining seas . . . ”

Later, he moved into the classrooms, and the kids were mesmerized by him, a lanky guy who looked as if he had escaped from mountain man times. He told of kayaking with whales and coyote tales of following and being followed by them. He gave endless, patient answers to endlessly enthusiastic questions, and then he drew the kids out, asking for their own wild stories, some of which, I’m sure, may never had been heard before.

Daniele Puccinelli (L) entertains Walkin' Jim with
tales of his hikes through the Scotchman Peaks.

He was just recovered from an earlier bout with cancer when he stayed in my back yard. I was amazed at by his skinny toughness, his genuine love for other folks, how much he carried in his heart and how little he seemed to need in his pack. Perhaps his biggest burden was his guitar.

A few days after he made his school visits to Thompson Falls and Trout Creek, I talked to one of the teacher from Thompson. “The kids are still singing that song,” she told me. Yes, and so are some of us adults. “. . . where the critters roam, free and on their own, in the wilderness, we’ll be right at home.”

The cancer came back and got him, as if it had forgotten, first time around. He didn’t want to go, I don’t think. There are too many other passages he wanted to make. But, we don’t really know what happens after the passage he did take. I would hope he will find even more beautiful and exciting spots to wander through in the Great Beyond Wilderness.

Goodby, Mr. Stoltz. Thanks for walkin’ through.

2 Responses
Carolyn says:

September 9, 2010 at 7:51 am

There are some people that are just, somehow, BIGGER than the rest of us. Walkin’ Jim was one of them, and I miss him terribly. What a gift he gave us.

Reply

Bev says:

September 9, 2010 at 4:58 pm

I remember several years ago at The Panida, hearing Walkin’ Jim sing at a Benefit for Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. His whole presence was so Heart-Felt and he had us singing along with him as we looked at beautiful wilderness slides! Yes, he will be very much missed by all of us! Bless you on your continuing Journey, Jim!

About The Author:
Sandy Compton is the program coordinator for Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. He grew up on a small farm/woodlot at the south end of the proposed wilderness and lives there still.
He is a storyteller and author of both fiction and non-fiction books, and the publisher at bluecreekpress.com.
Read More Posts by » Sandy Compton

— Sandy Compton