Kid’s Talk . . .
About Adventure Travel
Kasey’s Story

By Kasey Austin

Last summer I was looking forward to one particular trip that I was taking with my family. This would be the trip where I would visit my home state and get the chance to see and be with the people I wanted to grow up to be—the guides. The trip was to "the Great Frontier:" Alaska.

I have always been a traveler. I have lived in some awesome places--like Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana, where I am now. My first trip with an adventure travel company was in Yellowstone, when I was six years old, where I met a great friend that I still have now, Sam, who is my age, thirteen. From Yellowstone I went to places like the Tetons, Canadian Rockies, Kauai, Costa Rica, and the trip I'm going to tell about, Alaska.

Because I grew up in Alaska, I have made frequent trips back there almost every summer. Last summer’s trip was to be different, because that summer would be when I would finally be able to see my friend Sam, after seven years. Sure, my family was home a lot in the summer, but it wasn't like we spent all of our time together, so I was also looking forward to being with them, all of us together—on this trip.

My brother Andy, who is eleven years-old, has planned on being a marine biologist for quite a while. Ever since we went to Sea World, when we were young, he knew his passion was studying sea life. Going to Alaska would be a great opportunity to see whales, starfish, ocean birds, and all kinds of wildlife in the ocean, so I knew he was also thrilled about this trip. I was counting down the days when he and I would both learn about the biology of the ocean from our guides Matty K and Kristy, which brings me to who I want to grow up to be.

Matty K and Kristy are two of the best guides you'll ever meet. Seeing them, and other guides, over the past seven years has inspired me to want to become an adventure guide myself. I've been on the Alaska trip two times before last summer, but I still learned a lot, because the trip changes every time, and becomes even better. I love how the guides can change a person's life, in a positive way, just in a week's worth of time. From the smiles on their faces from sun-up to sundown, to their quick snacks on the trailside (just when you need it!), to feasting by the campfire--the guides are people that you just want to be with all the time. Doesn't everyone want a job like that?

Going on these trips doesn't only exercise your body, but also your mind. Along with an action packed trip, comes a ton of information that sticks with you your whole adventure, and, when you go home. When I was six years old, I learned that a U-shaped valley was made by a glacier, and a V-shaped valley was made by a river. I still remember this, and a lot of other cool facts, from all the guides I've been places with.

Often, when I go on trips, including Alaska, the guides let me help them out with setting tables, laying out chairs, buying donuts for the guests in the morning, and many other tasks. This has influenced my life in a very positive way. It makes me want to do well in school, and with other activities. The better the grades, the more trips in the summer. What a life!

Anyway, about Alaska--I made many new friends and got closer to my family. Plus, I learned a lot, got to look forward to being a guide next summer, and, I get to have all the great memories, for years to come.