MIC Lecture Series: Grandma Joy and Me

Part of the Moab Information Center Lecture Series, presented by the Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA). Veterinarian and author Brad Ryan shares the extraordinary, history-making journey behind his memoir, "Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time." What began as a simple trip to the Great Smoky Mountains after nearly a decade of estrangement became a seven-and-a-half-year adventure to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks with his grandmother, Joy Ryan, better known as Grandma Joy. Brad explores how America's public lands can serve as a catalyst for healing: helping individuals navigate mental health struggles, repair fractured family relationships, and rediscover a sense of purpose and belonging. Their journey challenges conventional ideas about aging and adventure, highlighting the vitality, wisdom, and resilience of older adults. At a time of growing loneliness and division, this talk is a call to reconnect with nature, with one another, and across generations. Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the Moab Information Center. Free and open to the public.