Hey there! The name’s Kara (care-uh). I’ve been a little nature nerd for as long as I can remember. Our family vacations consisted of camping at local parks and trips to the zoo. We had bird feeders in view of our kitchen table and one day Dad sat me down with a bird book and told me to identify as many birds as I could that visited our feeder- I’ve been a birder ever since. The summer before fifth grade, my parents sent me to a camp put on by the Cincinnati Museum Center at Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Southern Ohio. I was psyched. Summer camp? My only reference for summer camp was shaped entirely by 1998’s The Parent Trap. “Camp Walden here I come!” Well, Camp Walden it was not and it wasn’t until I arrived that I learned it was actually called Wings of Wonder Science Camp. SCIENCE camp… I remember thinking “there’s been some kind of mistake, I don’t belong here. I’m not a geek”. Nearly 20 years later, I find it a little disturbing knowing that’s how I felt in that moment. I ended up loving it and I’d be damned if I said that experience didn’t change my life. I pursued a career in science. No, it’s not the nature kind. I’m in the health field. But everyday I feel a pull to a different kind of field. I think you know what kind I’m talking about.

I did experience a disconnect from the outdoors after college, a lull if you will. I got to the point when I couldn’t remember the last time I laced my hiking boots and hit the trail. I was struggling in so many aspects of my life and was wildly unhappy. At the end of 2022, I deliberately flipped my world upside down. Ended a very long and sad relationship and changed career paths all in a 3-month period. That Christmas, I received my Park Passport book of the Ohio State Parks. I bought a brand new pair of binoculars and took off. Alone, I traveled the state of Ohio with my binos around my neck and pepper spray in-hand (no, not for bears). It was the most liberating thing I’ve ever done and a true gift to myself. It's been 2 and a half years and I just visited my 50th Ohio State Park. Oh, and met the love of my life, Blake! Who has his own personal goal to visit every national park in the US (10 down, many more to go). This platform wouldn’t exist without him. Its a classic story of birder girl meets videographer guy and the rest is history!

We’ve hiked, camped, picnicked, kayaked, and strolled through nature centers. We’ve also met some really wonderful people along the way. We’re finally ready to take you with us on this journey! Whether you already know how beautiful Ohio (and beyond) is or you’re just now discovering all it has to offer, we hope this platform inspires you to step outside and discover something new, even in your own backyard.