My name is Kari and I love the outdoors. I spend as much time as possible outside, biking, hiking, swimming. I grew up on a small lake in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, so up until college, I was almost forced to be outside because there was nothing else to do. Now, I realize I took what I had at home on the lake for granted. I never appreciated enough the feeling of safety and solitude of the place as a whole . Now, when I go home, I spend my summers in the water or the woods. I love to kayak in the morning, when there’s mist on the water and the birds are singing. I like to listen to almost all of the birds around the lake.. Except for geese. I hate canadian geese and their noise and mess. I understand that they need a place to live just like the rest of us, but the experience of clean bare feet slipping through goose poo is an experience I would like to never repeat. On the other hand, some birds, like great horned owls, are amazing to listen to. Recently, on a camping trip with some friends, I was proud to be able to identify the call of a great horned owl that woke us all up at 2 a.m. I realize now the value of a place and the profound impact it has on a person.