When most kids sit down to write an essay, it's usually in the classroom or in their room doing homework. Fifth-grader Jason Maki of Marysville often writes on the school bus, andone essay he wrote on the bus has earned him second place in a national essay contest.

The Maki family loves the outdoors. When they are not in Marysville, they like to spend their time exploring nature and national parks. Avid visitors of the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, a breathtaking park where the mountains reach the sky at 13,770 feet above sea level, the Makis have been exploring the park since Jason was four months old. So when Jason's aunt found a national essay contest about why national parks are so important to our society, she knew that Jason would be up for the challenge.

The 2009 Junior Ranger Essay Contest aims to promote public awareness for park philanthropy and help raise funds for the national park organization. In its third year of the contest, the National Park Foundation asked children ages 9 to 12 years old from across the country, "Why are our national parks important to you and what is your best idea to protect our parks for the future?" 400 essays were submitted to the organization, and Jason Maki took second place behind first place winner Skyler Baldwin of California.

While riding home from school on the big yellow bus, Jason drafted his essay. Part of it read, "When I see or even think about a national park, it is like no other feeling I've ever had. A national park is like a special cabinet that contains memories that are filled with truly special natural treasures. When you see a picture of a national park on post card, on TV or in a movie, you will probably say, 'Wow! That is beautiful!' But actually being at a national park and seeing it in person is even more wonderful and breathtaking."

His father, Jeff Maki, a documentary filmmaker, believes that Jason did so well because "he wrote from the heart and it connected."

A prize was awarded to the top three winners and Jason received $2000 to donate to a national park of his choice, a $500 Visa gift card, and a one-year America the Beautiful pass. Naturally, Jason chose the Grand Teton National Park for the $2000 donation, and with his gift card in hand and a part of the summer still remaining, Jason plans to purchase new skateboarding equipment.

"He is an excellent skateboarder," said Mr. Maki. "He wants a new board, new shoes, and a new helmet. We are also trying to find a way to put some into savings for him."

Next school year, Jason will attend Marysville Totem Middle School, where he is excited to play the saxophone in the band like his grandfather once did. For now, Jason and his family will enjoy the rest of the summer and visit the Grand Teton National Park again in August, where the young boy hopes to see the changes he made with his donation money.

Jason ended his essay by stating, "We the people own the national parks. They are ours. That is why we need to protect our parks and preserve them forever."

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