John McDonnell’s business and philanthropic roots in St. Louis run deep. He had a decades-long career at the St. Louis-based McDonnell Douglas Corporation and retired as chairman of the board in the late 1990s. His passion for giving back to the St. Louis community is evident through his involvement in many local nonprofits and institutions, such as the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. A lover of nature and adventure, he has also generously supported WWF for many years. You’re an adventure traveler and enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. When and how did that start? I grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis and spent a lot of time outside. But what really got me hooked on nature was a trip to a summer canoeing camp in Ontario, Canada, when I was 11. We would go out on canoe trips for three to 10 days, and I loved camping and experiencing the unexpected in nature. Once I was able to travel on my own, I went wilderness canoeing and camping, primarily in Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, almost every summer for decades. I’ve probably gone 25 different times.