If you’ve hiked with me before, you already know — I’ve always had a fierce love for the outdoors, nature, travel, and adventure. Even back in college, I spent nearly every weekend with my outdoor club, loading up gear and heading out to explore a new corner of the desert Southwest.

Looking back, I realize just how privileged I was to grow up with a father who taught earth science. That early exposure to curiosity, wonder, and scientific thinking shaped so much of who I am. But it also made me aware of something important: most kids don’t grow up with that kind of mentorship — and if we want the next generation to protect wild places, they first need to understand and love them.

Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats — from earning my bachelor’s degree in Arizona with a focus in Archaeology and my master’s in Maine in Environmental and Native Studies, to working as an Environmental Specialist and Source Water Protection Specialist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. In that role, I conducted inspections of drinking water facilities, developed watershed and wellhead protection plans, attended stakeholder meetings, and led public environmental outreach. It was a career rooted in both science and community connection.

Then life shifted. I became an entrepreneur, a mom, and a guide for my own kids’ adventures. Somewhere along the way, though, I noticed a gap: my children’s curious trail questions were outpacing my ability to answer them. Despite all my schooling and field experience, there were moments I found myself saying, “That’s a great question — let’s look it up when we get home.”

So now, I’m circling back to my roots and working toward completing my North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate. For me, this isn’t just a professional goal — it’s a personal mission. I want to deepen my knowledge so I can better guide my kids, our Trail Mommas community, and anyone who joins us on the trail.

Making Fast Progress
This program typically takes two to four years to complete, but I’ve hit the ground running — I’m already about 30% complete in just under two months. I’ve loved diving into the self-study workshops through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and their field workshops have been the perfect blend of hands-on learning and professional development. As fall approaches, I’m gearing up for the teaching component of the certification, which will give me the chance to share this knowledge in a more structured, educational setting with our Trail Mommas crew.

Because here’s the truth: public school isn’t designed to instill a love for hiking, adventuring, and exploring. That’s something we have to nurture outside the classroom. And if we want to protect our forests, wetlands, coastlines, and wildlife, we first have to understand them — and then, through that understanding, fall in love with them.

I’m determined to be part of that process. For my kids. For your kids. For every curious hiker who stops mid-trail to ask, “What’s that bird call?” or “Why is the water this color?”

This certification is just the next step in a lifelong journey — one that began with a desert trail and a father who taught me to look closely at the world, and one that I hope will inspire others to do the same.