Wild Keeper Spotlight: Alissa Kelley

Our next Wild Keeper Spotlight is introducing Alissa Kelley! Alissa has been a Wild Keeper for four terms and is based in Pennsylvania. Alissa shared that growing up, her parents were always turning off the tv and encouraging herself and her siblings to play outside. She said that they "lived out in the middle of nowhere so we were always outdoors, whether it was playing tag, feeding our animals, or swinging. Needless to say, growing up with parents who love the outdoors has made me love being outside as well! And the older I get, the more I appreciate the outdoors!"

Her favorite outdoor spot is Ohiopyle State Park located in PA! Not only is it her favorite place to camp, but, she shares that everywhere you turn the views are incredible. She recounts, "My Dad and I took a white water rafting trip there and it was a blast! I’ve been wanting to go back so bad... this time to try going down the natural water slides!"

Reminiscing on her most memorable outdoor experience, she says it would be "the kayaking trip my fiancé, siblings, and I did last summer down our local creek. We hit some rapids, I got stuck on a rock, and my brother had to try to catch paddles from an overturned kayak! Once we were all able to regroup and find our shoes, we couldn’t stop laughing!"

Read more about Alissa below! 

KNW: What is your preferred way to get outside?
Alissa: Hiking, kayaking, or camping

KNW: Which would you pick: forests, mountains or deserts?
A: Forests

KNW: What is your favorite thing about being a Wild Keeper?
A: Without a doubt, making a positive impact on our planet by reducing the amount of trash. The WKA community is amazing, too!

KNW: What has picking up trash outdoors done for you? (shifted perspective, opened your eyes to, etc?)
A: Picking up trash outdoors has really opened my eyes to how much there is. I never noticed it before becoming a Wild Keeper and I’m constantly amazed at how much I find.

KNW: Roughly how many pounds do you think you've picked up since you became a Wild Keeper?
A: 131 pounds and counting!

KNW: What goals do you have for this year? (or beyond?)
A: This year, my goal is to pick up 200 pounds of trash!! And beyond 2021, my goal is to keep picking up trash and educating people about the effects that littering has on our neighborhoods, parks, and planet.

If you want to follow along with Alissa's adventures and wild keeping, follow her here!