My name is Valerie and I’m a scientist, artist, and avid outdoorswoman currently in Colorado, USA. My curiosity about the natural world started at a young age, exploring the prairies and woods of Wisconsin where I grew up. This curiosity blossomed into a love of backpacking and hiking as a teenager, which inspired me to embark on what I saw as the ultimate outdoor adventure – a thru-hike of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail – and to later pursue a degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

My aim with my writing and art is to create digital content that tells the story of our relationship with Earth and to provide useful learning resources rooted in science.