Loving Nature....When it all began.

You may not believe it but that's me in that feature photo. I was about four years old and standing at Lake Victoria in Jasper National Park. My father, an avid photographer at the time, captured a moment in time. While not a perfect photo it does show off the majesty of the area and my excitement of being there. I don't necessarily remember that moment but I do know that moments like that made me who I am today.

My family never had a lot of money while I was growing up. My father owned his own business and I had 3 siblings. Our family vacations always included camping. I didn't stay in a hotel until I was in high school. Thanks to these camping trips I saw Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, Jasper National Park, Yosemite National Park and many more. I saw wilderness, wild animals, and fed prairie dogs. We traveled via a motorhome when I was older and my dad would certainly pull over if there was a chance to photograph a bear. As I got older our camping trips were often isolated to parts of Michigan where I grew up. I spent time hiking the woods and spending time at the beach working on my tan (as we did in the 80s). I never grew tired of it. 

Later in high school I embarked upon my first backpacking trip to the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire. The next year we tackled trails in Canada and camped while backpacking. And then... nothing. I went off to college. I moved out to Maryland and then Virginia.  I became enthralled with other things - most notably - salsa dancing. Somehow the idea of spending time outside never crossed my mind. I visited places like Great Falls National park and Shenandoah National Park but never hiked. It wasn't that I didn't love nature I guess I just had other priorities.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire

Then one weekend I decided to take my kids hiking in Shenandoah National Park. I knew nothing about the park or what trail to use or where to do. We picked one. It rained. We turned back. But I loved it. Finally, the nature lover in me had woken up. The next year I decided to take my kids hiking for spring break. It has now become a tradition. I think back to all the camping trips we took when I was young and now know that those times spent in nature is what made me who I am today. Now, I live for being in nature. I actively promote protecting nature. And I work to get my kids outside and experiencing nature as much as I can. 

My kids on the top of Brumley Mountain in Virginia

I will be forever grateful to my parents for using our family vacations as a way to introduce us to nature.  I look back on the old photos and just love the memories. If you have kids, get them outside! Hike with them. Even if it is a short hike. I promise it will change their live.