We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eric & Valerie Castillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eric & Valerie below.

Eric & Valerie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

Well, it all started with our first trip to the Grand Canyon. Believe it or not, that was our first ever visit to a national park, and we didn’t really know much about them at the time. We just had Journey, our baby girl, and with everything going on – the pandemic, the crazy speed of social media and tech changes – we just wanted to get away from it all and spend some quality time in nature. We figured it would be a great experience for her, too. You know, growing up as a girl today has its own set of challenges, and we wanted to give Journey a strong start. So, we thought, why not explore these amazing parks and show her the beauty of the world? It turned out to be an incredible journey for all of us, discovering these stunning places and watching her grow along the way.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Who is Journey? At just three years old, Journey is an extraordinary young explorer who has achieved the remarkable milestone of visiting all 63 US National Parks, starting from the tender age of one week. Her journey through these majestic landscapes has ignited a passion for their preservation. Witnessing the beauty and fragility of these natural wonders firsthand, Journey has become an advocate for protecting these precious environments. Her experiences underscore the importance of introducing the next generation to these parks early on. By doing so, we can foster a deep-seated appreciation and commitment in our children to preserve these natural treasures. Journey’s story is a compelling reminder for parents to take their young ones on adventures in these parks, allowing them to experience their splendor in their current state and to instill in them a lifelong dedication to environmental stewardship.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Traveling with Journey as a newborn actually worked out quite well. She mostly slept, and we found great joy in taking her to these majestic places and capturing her early moments there. However, as she grew older, the dynamics changed. Her energy levels increased, and with that came louder voices and screams, making long road trips increasingly challenging. We shifted to flying, but this introduced new logistical challenges, like finding nonstop flights and dealing with the distance from airports to parks. We encountered our fair share of obstacles – mistakes were made, lessons learned, all costing us time and money. We had initially embarked on this journey as a casual goal, but as it gained media attention and our story started getting published, it felt like we couldn’t back down. There was a real sense of commitment to see it through.
The driving force behind our determination was the future we envisioned for Journey. We wanted to give her this incredible gift – a childhood filled with extraordinary experiences and memories. Despite the challenges, the idea of completing this goal for her sake kept us going. We wanted her to have this unique story as part of her life, something she could always look back on with pride and joy.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely, that’s exactly what we’re hoping for. We want to challenge and change societal norms. If we can inspire other parents to instill a love and appreciation for our national parks in their children, we believe we can make a real difference in the fight against climate change. Imagine a new generation of advocates, park rangers, scientists, and arboriculturists, all dedicated to preserving and protecting our delicate landscapes. That’s the future we envision. We want Journey’s story to be a catalyst, a voice that inspires this change and encourages families to embark on their own adventures in nature. By doing so, we’re not just enjoying the beauty of the parks; we’re actively participating in safeguarding our planet for future generations.

Our message is simple yet profound; you’re never too young or too old to start your journey. Whether you’re a newborn experiencing the world for the first time or someone who’s been around the block a few times, it’s never too late or too early to explore, to learn, and to grow. Life is an adventure waiting to be embraced at every age, and the natural world offers endless opportunities for discovery. We hope our story encourages everyone to step outside, to breathe in the beauty of nature, and to find their own path in this vast, wonderful world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.journeygoexplore.com
• Instagram: @journey_castillo
• Facebook: Journey Go Explore

Image Credits
Valerie & Eric Castillo