Not long ago, when we published a young man's story about summers at a Minnesota lake cabin, a reader commented that the fun and memories the author celebrated had a dark side — greenhouse gas emissions from the trip, waste generated, toxics released, including dioxins from burning waste in the firepit — and others. While sincere, the reader's concerns seemed to me to miss the point — by a mile.

Yes, there are environmental impacts from traveling to and enjoying time at a Minnesota lake. But how do you quantify the benefits of a young person learning to appreciate the outdoors experience and perhaps becoming a good land and water steward as a result? If a young man or woman learns to love the outdoors he or she may reduce many more harmful impacts on air, water and wildlife over a lifetime. They may be one of the people who help us solve the systemic issues around transportation and waste.

Sometimes, environmentalists and conservationists take ourselves too seriously and view problems and opportunities too narrowly. Let's not, literally, miss the forest for the trees. It's good to have fun at the lake, to pass on a heritage to our kids, and simply to get kids outdoors more frequently.