Disappointment was my first experience when I went on a teen expedition trip. But, it wasn’t for the reason one would think.
It was the early morning of a summer day in 2023. Camping bags were packed, I was excited to go to Togiak, explore nature, and understand the Alaskan world from a world outside of my own, when the call came. The call that broke my heart. My mother explained to me that the flight was cancelled for because of bad weather. The joy, the hope, all I would’ve learned vanished and out of my control.
However, that wasn’t the last memory I had with AKGeo because that heartbreak turned to an amazing and memorable experience. The Kechmak Bay Shorebirds Festival Trip led to so many new friendships & memories. Mr. Mischa, the program coordinator, stood out to me. He was funny, informed, & he made the whole experience great! He was able to make everyone outgoing and smile and now I try to implement that when I’m in a new environment.
There was so much I learned during the trip including bird migration patterns, how otters behave & protected, and the history that shaped our public lands today, a majority of which I learned at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Most importantly on this trip, it exposed me to the beauty of nature in my own backyard. I am blessed to live in such a nature based state where I have the opportunity to see plants and animals in their natural habitats. Before this trip I wasn’t one to enjoy hikes or go outside but now I’m more willing to go on nature walks and hikes to just escape from the noise of the city. I take time to not only appreciate the landscape around me but the Alaska land helps me process and reflect on myself. I am also more invested in preserving our planet from global warming through research of the current ongoing and at an organization I’m a part of, we’re in the process of adopting a park. This allows for more clean ups to keep our community clean but do little steps to keep our state healthy.