Kara

Flying through life by the seat of my pants, I have always found solace in nature.  It’s the one thing that manages to ground my fleeting thoughts and desire to wander off.  My  20s and 30s were spent wrestling with who I wanted to be, as I trekked through the spaces of my mind living in Tanzania.  I constantly battled the desire to rush into things with the more sensible approach of taking my time, assessing situations and dipping one toe in at a time.

I went from an art major in college to non-profit co-founder in Moshi, Tanzania (in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro) within the span of 3 years.  I knew nothing about leading an organization, although had the drive and creative spirit to be an asset to the creation of something that transformed lives.  Learning on my feet, I developed administration and communication skills, but lacked in leadership.  I also found through the course of the years working with children and young people living in extremely difficult circumstances, that ‘doing good’ and being part of helping young people grow was important to me.  So, I became a teacher.  I taught an amazing school in Arusha surrounded by expansive landscape with the craggy feature of Mt. Meru rising out of the effervescent town.  These snapshots of calmness (the mountains and open scenery) brought a sense of belonging into my life.

Fast forward six years later I moved back to the U.S. where I continue to rectify that sense of belonging.  As a single mother of three amazing children, I find myself unsure of how to navigate the world.  I struggle to find the right life-work balance, and to be totally honest I struggle to find the ‘right’ work.  I want to be part of a bigger mission in life that touches the hearts, minds and souls of others.  I want to be a part of the empowerment process for others, however, my own journey must start with self-empowerment.

This blog is the beginning of my own journey.  Nature is awe inspiring.  It challenges and subdues.  I am taking the plunge and traveling through my own course of self-empowerment by engaging in nature, taking risks, gaining inspiration from my fearless children, and sharing these experiences with you.

Now meet these wondrous, wacky and wild spirits of mine.

Gabriel

For most of what I can remember my grandfather would always take me and my sister to go play outside or visit a museum instead of staying home all day. As a former Zoologist, he was deeply in love with nature. With enthusiasm, he would to take us visit parks, wooded areas, and streams, showing us the names of plants and animals, passing on that special love of nature to the next generation.

In school and at home, I would always be strangely intrigued by the wilderness, learning as much information as I could about the wild that inhabited it, and exploring nature. Loving nature is one of the things that defines me, and allows me to connect to mother Earth.

Hopefully this blog will help you to create a special bond with nature, and inspire the protection of Earth.

Sylvia

Being a dog lover, I am very fond of long dog walks outdoors. I enjoy playing in the creek with our 2 yr old puppy, and walking her down the long, steep paths. Having company while exploring is definitely recommended. You shouldn’t be afraid to get dirty, because it’s always worth the while. Whether you have a dog, or a person to spend time with, It’s way more fun to experience it with others. As you can see Noel, our 2 yr old puppy, certainly doesn’t mind being dirty (bottom).