We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kimberly Wolt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kimberly below.

Kimberly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I would say finding peoples lost belongings and being able to return them.

Kimberly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a metal detectorist or Detectorett. I have a YouTube which, is now called Metal Detecting Momma. I also recently started a TikTok (Heavy Metal Cowgirl) I was doing FaceBook and Instagram reels and I still do but, I seem to do better with TikTok and YouTube. I knew that you could make some money with social platforms and I hated my job so I was like why not. I am doing this anyway I might as well post videos.

Originally I was against doing a YouTube channel but, I finally caved and started one after a gal pal of mine and our kids were on the news for finding a special necklace and returning it to the owner which ,happened to be her daughters necklace and it contained the ashes of her 16 year old brother who had died in a car accident.

Metal detecting is something that I love doing with my daughter and getting her out of the house and out of in front of the tv. but, it’s also something I like doing alone or with friends and if I find something of value I try to get it returned to it’s owner. It’s not always easy but, I do try and sometimes I have been successful.

I don’t know how many times we are out and we are approached by other kids and I give out pirate coins to the kiddo’s. Parents will approach on the occasion and they are appreciative that I am cleaning up parks and sometimes people want to learn more about it and I help them learn a new hobby.

You would be surprised the things I get out of the park too, from rusty nails, razor blades, knifes, and other nasty things that shouldn’t be in a park. You would also be surprised the cool things I have found lost at a park too. I have found some nice rings and other jewelry.

It makes me feel good to keep not only my kiddo safe but, other people’s littles as well. I also, metal detect other places besides parks.

I also go to the river, lakes, and desert. I have been fortunate enough to travel a little bit and I have hit a few beaches and other parks and rivers mostly in Arizona where I live and throughout the United States and Mexico.

I use it as an escape of sorts and therapy. It’s been a rough few years and it definitely clears my head. It’s been nice meeting new people and learning new things along the way too.

I haven’t made a dime other than the coins I find and honestly that is ok. It’s fun and keeps me outdoors and if I can find someone who’s lost something of value to them and return it, that is payment enough to see their smiles.

Sometimes people ask me to help them and sometimes I find it and other times I don’t but, they are appreciative either way.

I also have branched out to do other things besides just metal detecting and have been rockhounding a little bit and prospecting for gold.

I love to find rocks with my daughter. She has been picking up quartz out in my corral by my horses and around my yard since she could walk. Seeing her out in the wild collecting rocks and now prospecting has been a blast. She’s turning into my little adventurer. And is proud to be feral like her mother and yes, she has her own metal detector.

If I could quit my day job and treasure hunt for a living I TOTALLY would. Will it be in the cards for me? That I don’t know but, for now I am just having fun, exploring, and learning a lot of new things along the way.

I joined a group a few years ago Apache Junction Gold Prospector Association.
I am constantly wanting to learn new things, and this was the 1st year that I found a decent amount of gold while prospecting. Which has been exciting, taking my daughter with me and we rough it. We sleep in tents in the woods and she loves it as much as I do. We explore and have come across some wild animals and it’s nice to just get out especially with me being indoors all day at work and Liberty at school all day.

Going North during the hot summers has been a blessing. We have explored places that a lot of people have only dreamed about.

We have camped at our friends property in Prescott which used to be an old mining camp. I love history and historic places so, this was a dream to explore. I found an old ax and hammer head that was from the 1800’s doesn’t seem like much to some but, imagining how people used to live and the old tools that haven’t been touched in I don’t know how long was exciting.

We also found an old horseshoe nailed in a tree. The tree had been cut down but, it had been there so long the tree started to grow around it. My friend cut the tree in a more manageable size and I brought it back. We are going to maybe sand it down, burn around the edges and varnish it. My thoughts are, if this was a mining camp they put the horseshoe there for luck.

Eventually, I want to learn how to scuba and I want to metal detect more under water. I currently snorkel but, I want to do more in the ocean. The only downfall is sharks! The upside is treasure, travel, adventure and the beauty of the ocean.

Besides Metal detecting, prospecting, and rockhounding I have a regular 9-5 job and I’m a mobile notary of public For Now… Better things will come!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I mean, honestly I just started mine and didn’t really know what I was doing and to be honest I still don’t.

I take it day at a time. I have learned that certain times of the day and during the day on the weekends isn’t a really a good time to post anything.

I know, I can’t please everyone. I try to show my personality a little bit when I can. Some people like me and some don’t. I can’t please everyone and I have come to realize that.

I used to get upset when I got a negative comment. But, now I just brush it off. In the end good or bad it’s another view.

And I guess that is the best advice I could give to anyone starting out is as hurtful as people can be. Don’t let it bother you.
What are they doing? You’re putting yourself out there and hopefully making someone laugh or showing someone something that interests them with something they have always wanted to do but, haven’t had the opportunity to do it. So, brush it off and keep on going.
Get business cards too, people listen to you when you’re talking to them face to face but, they forget. I can’t remember a persons name 5 minutes after they tell me. Business cards or stickers are a must.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Well, I started out doing this with someone I thought was my friend. Best of friends actually, we were inseparable. We both had a lot of personal things going on in our lives and were and are dealing with those things and in the end just not together and you know what? It was painful at 1st. I have lost friends and family due to rumors and gossip that wasn’t true. I have learned that people can be hateful and it’s been brutal.
I have come to realize I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. But, I drink coffee anyway. So there’s that. 😁

A lot of times I wanted to fall apart like I felt my life was. There were times I wanted to just give up. However, I learned that sometimes you have to pull up your big girl panties and deal with it. Which I have. And I am not alone. I have some great people in my life who support me and help keep my head level. My daughter keeps me sane and drives me insane all at the same time but, at the end of the day we are having a blast and again making those memories and I am more determined on making those dreams I have a reality.

And this is where I added to my social media and added TikTok. I was surprised how fast it grew in just a few months. Literally, 700ish followers in a few months and I have had my Youtube for a few years and it has less. It’s been crazy, yet exciting. One thing about me is I like making people smile and laugh and seeing myself do something silly makes me laugh and yeah I will post it. Happy Hunting!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Apacheau.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EwxTeqCkN/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Metaldetectingmomma
• Other: TikTok @heavy.metal.cowgi