Meet Alex. Alex is a 6th generation Floridian who’s passion for wild spaces has turned into a career. After completing her masters of science in environmental education, Alex looked to leverage her expertise to bridge the gap between science and the public through photography. Since then, she’s trekked through delicate southern Florida ecosystems tracking Florida Panthers with National Geographic Photographer Carlton Ward Jr, become a adjunct professor of biology at Radford University, and now works as an assistant researcher and science communicator at the Center for Animal Human Relationships at the Virginia Tech Vet School.

Her most recent project is a short film called Hidden Wild. Alex, along with high school students Noah, Kiana, and Kourtez, paddled down the Wild & Scenic Loxahatchee River, waded through ancient cypress swamps, and witnessed the life-giving power of fire in Florida scrub. Seven days, 70 miles, Through Florida’s hidden wilderness tucked behind the urban sprawl of Palm Beach County.

Follow Alex on Instagram and make sure to watch Hidden Wild hosted on the NRS Youtube Channel!

Check out the Path of the Panther Project here and don't forget to check out the National Geographic Cover story next month! 

If you want to learn more about the Florida Wildlife Corridor, check it out here!

Here are the brands that helped make Hidden Wild happen:

NRS

Pelican Kayaks

Sunshine State Goods

Black Diamond

Rider's Only Bike Shop

Day's Edge Production

Meet Wesley and the American Hiking Society. The AHS is on am mission to make the American hiking experience more accessible and more available to everyone who wants to take a walk in our nation’s wonderful outdoor spaces. This includes having permanent access to meaningful hikes including urban, front country, and backcountry opportunities. The American Hiking Society gets their boots muddy on the trail by supporting good trail stewardship but also brings those boots to the doors of Congress to do the nitty gritty work of ensuring funding for old trails and new trails, preservation of public lands, and protection of the hiking experience. Wesley is an avid outdoorsman himself, being called the most inspiring man on the PCT by Outside Magazine for his 2,600 mile journey from Mexico to Canada while managing his Cerebral Palsy.

Ready to stock up on some Camping Out Swag? Check out the new online store! 10% of each purchase goes to an organization or program that is helping bring more people into the outdoors or to protect our wild spaces. 

Resources mentioned in the show:

American Hiking Society Website 

American Hiking Society on Instagram and Facebook

Wesley Trimble's Website (check out his short films and other work here!)

Wesley's Personal Instagram

Recreateresponsibly.org

I challenge you to get involved in advocating for your favorite wild spaces. Check out the resources available on the AHS website and contact your representatives about legislation that will help make the outdoors more equitable. 

Meet Bobby and Rocky Mountain Rafts. Bobby is a key member of the RMR team and has his hands on designing the boats that all us river rats then get to enjoy. Born and raised in the New River Gorge, Bobby has been guiding rafts for over 30 years. His experience and love for the wild places has enabled Bobby to help others find their own outdoor adoration. Rocky Mountain Rafts has been around since 2011 with the goal to build commercial grade whitewater rafts at a price weekend batters and river guides can afford. Imagine Southwest Airlines, but with more river cred.

If you're ready to buy a raft, hurry up and go to their website! 

Follow Team RMR on Instagram and Facebook.

If you want to apply for a job with Wildman Adventure Resort, follow this link.

Please reach out at [email protected] or on Instagram or Facebook to get in touch with me and let me know any feedback or suggestions for future episodes! I love you all!

Meet Annalee. Annalee is a charismatic soul with a deep love for the river and the community built around it. Growing up within a stone’s throw of the United States National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, Annalee developed the goal to one day become a professional river guide. After achieving this goal at the USNWC, she’s gone on to become a contributing writer for the International Rafting Federation, which is recognised as the legitimate world governing body for rafting. As a film student, artist, writer, and professional raft guide, there isn’t much that this whitewater woman can’t do.

Follow Annalee on Instagram, on Facebook, and at her personal website.

Annalee mentions a book she'd like to share with the Campfire Crew! If you're interested in learning more, check out The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

Looking to apply at Wildman Adventure Resort? Follow this link to the applications! 

And of course, please reach out to me either on social media or by email at [email protected]!

Meet Evan. An artist and storyteller extraordinaire. Evan is a student at the Kansas City Art Institute where he's been creating a piece called “Brotherhood;" a stop-motion abstract narrative. It is an exploration of relationship. His aim is to use his experience as the third brother in a line of four to discuss the emotional significance of forming, losing sight of, and then rediscovering relationships, and how during the process, we come to understand our relationship to Creation by and large. The final project is an abstract film, but today you’ll hear the Audio from the poem.

Evan wrote a prelude to the poem explaining how his inspiration always falls back to nature. In a way that only Evan can, he guides us through the creative process using techniques he's cultivated throughout his career in art. 

To connect with Evan:

Instagram 

Email

Brotherhood Blog

If you want to suggest someone for a Fireside Short Story or an episode of Camping Out, email me at [email protected]!

Meet Jess. She's the creator, director, and CEO of Vibe Tribe Adventures! Vibe Tribe Adventures, formerly known as Black Girls Hike, is a non profit, minority-woman owned, global outdoor and adventure company that was created to encourage black women, men, and urban youth to explore the great outdoors, practice conservation, become educated on environmental science, health, and wellness and to inspire one another to be who they are naturally. In a world where we desperately need more people to fall in love with the great outdoors, Jess and her tribes are doing the work to help bring more people in the black community into the world of outdoor adventure. 

If you want to support Vibe Tribe Adventures, check out their website here! Please consider donating on a reoccurring basis!

Follow Vibe Tribe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

If you're looking to become an adventure guide with Vibe Tribe and you're a person of color, shoot Jess an email at [email protected]

While you're at it, make sure to follow the new Camping Out Instagram account! 

In this new Camping Out bonus series, Camping Out with Dad, I get to sit down for intimate conversations with my dad about growing up outdoors and all the adventures we've shared until now! My dad and I have a unique relationship that is tied together by our outdoor trips and lessons learned from them. In the first installment of this series we talked about the importance of our early adventures and why the bonds created then were a key part of our relationship moving forward. 

If you know something you'd like us to talk about in the next Camping Out with Dad segment, hit us up at [email protected] or by visiting us on Instagram or Facebook!

Meet Garrett and Shelby. They are currently living the raft guide dream at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. By using the lessons taught by past mistakes, Garrett and Shelby are taking on every opportunity for growth and leadership on the water and within the company. Not to mention, that just recently tied the knot before the global pandemic! This episode talks about it all! A love for the river, a love for each other, the need for good mentors, and why finding your own creative outlet is so important! 

Follow Garrett on Instagram

Follow Shelby on Instagram

Follow Carpe Fluvium Bags on Instagram

Curious about the books that Garrett mentioned? Check them out: 

The Guide's Guide Augmented: Reflections on Guiding Professional River Trips by William McGinnis

The Starship and the Canoe by Kenneth Brower

Hello Campers! Tonight is a solo episode with me, Dan! I wanted to give those of you who don't know me a look into my life and why I decided to start this podcast. It's my goal for this podcast to seem like a really personal connection between you, me, and the guests who share some time with us. As we look into 2021, how do you hope to build relationships and cultivate adventure?

Reach out to us at dan camp.net or social media to let us know who we should talk to next and what topics you'd like to hear about. 

Adventure comes to those who GO!

Hello Campers! Welcome to a recap episode from all the episodes in 2020. At the end of every podcast, I ask each guest the same 5 questions. The final question goes like this: When it's all said and done, you're gone and all we have to talk about is your legacy as we sit by the campfire... what do you hope people are saying about you?

It's a simple question that reaches into the deepest bits of our character. What do we want others to think about when they think about us? Everyone's answer was different but tied together by a few similar threads. Being good to people. Being thought of as helpful. Leaving an impact on the lives of those you interact with. It was inspiring to revisit all of these conversations, and I hope you get as much joy out of re-listening to them as I did.

If you want to reach out to the Camping Out team, you can do so by emailing [email protected], DM me on Instagram, or just by reaching out over at www.dancamp.net.

If you want to revisit some of your favorite episodes, you can find them ALL here. 

Remember, Adventure comes to those who GO!