Currently, Jake is living in South Korea, with his wife Sara, who is stationed in Pyeongtaek with the Air Force. As a reservist for the military, it was necessary for Jake to defer a year of service to join her, but the experience has been worth it. Though it hasn't always been easy. 

 Jake first discovered Keep Nature Wild while on a road trip through Sedona. His wife Sara purchased a This Land is Our Land shirt and they were both hooked by the mission of KNW. Their passion for the outdoors only grew from that point. The Fall 2018 Term began accepting applications not too long after Jake and Sara moved to South Korea. Moving anywhere new can be difficult, but that can be even more trying when moving to the other side of the world to an entirely different culture. 

The Fall Term was perfect timing for Jake as it helped give him a purpose in his new daily routine. Before recently being hired for a civilian position on base, he was able to take his two dogs, Pretzel and Moose, and explore the area while picking up trash. Becoming a Wild Keeper made him notice the trash he had previously just walked past. That first small step in picking up trash has led to Jake and Sara living a more consciously sustainable lifestyle. They have acquired better habits and are phasing out all single-use items. South Korea has also been an example to Jake in how the communities take pride in local sustainability. There is a robust recycling program in their area and the nationals make every effort to ensure they're doing their best. This sometimes includes coming out before trash is collected and separating recyclables for their neighbors who didn't. 

 You can find both Jake and Sara out climbing, hiking and cleaning up the wild spaces they frequently visit. After their year in South Korea comes to an end, Sara will be transferred to Hawaii and Jake will be able to start his reservist duties again. He's especially excited since he's never visited a tropical environment and beach cleanups have become a passion of his.