Project Understory

Kindra shares her adventures searching for caves in Maquoketa, and the journey which took her there.  Sometimes the struggle can be the reward.

Elena shares stories of growing up in the woods, creating games, and encountering a creature who shares the same environment.

Join Eric with his favorite memory hunting for an elusive buck, and what hunting means to him, his family, and his connection to nature.

Carly shares her story backpacking in Michigan and the challenges with poor weather, strange insects, and mysterious tapping in the woods.

Aaron shares his experiences in the Florida Keyes and the adventures that bring him face to face with drawfs and giants.

Join Grant on his journey on the ocean cage diving to see sharks and learning that you can have the best and worst moments at the same time.  

Matthew shares a personal story of challenge and triumph as he climbs Mount Baldy.

On a camping adventure in Olympic National Park, our narrator learns the importance of human companionship and community in the wild.  

A childhood camping trip in bear country leaves a deep impression on our narrator about the importance of listening to one another, no matter our age or experience level.

Escaping conflict on a family camping trip, a young college student stumbles upon a magical lakeside moment that frees his mind and spirit. 

The story of how sitting regularly in the branchy embrace of a giant white oak changed one student's view and connection with the natural world forever.

A face-to-face encounter with a juvenile black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains leaves one young naturalist contemplating  the impact of invasive humans on wildlife and wild places.

Often families will plan adventures to create memories, to grow closer, to share something special that is different from the day to day.  Lindsey tells a funny, not-so-funny, story of a family adventure that will remind you of the phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

Learning when a med kit is necessary can be unnerving, but what happens when the one in need is you?  Listen to Sierra tell her harrowing tale and come away with a sense that you need to exhale.

Lauren paints a lovely picture with her description of a beloved childhood place where she learns the challenges of embracing change.

Connor takes the listener on a journey of sunburn, exhaustion, fear, homesickness, and a whirlpool. By facing nature at its most threatening, Connor came to a greater understanding of perseverance.

Ever want to paddle surf on the Pacific? Listen to Abby's explanation of the importance of shuffling your feet through San Diego.

Sometimes Nature disturbs us to get our attention and appreciation.  Listen to Paul's story of a Red-tailed hawk enjoying a "squirrel sandwich" and how he was reminded of how closely bound we all are in this experience.

Sometimes the events that cause us to cringe make the best stories to tell.  Ellen shares how a family trip turned adventure turned near miss turned story of a life time.

Have you ever carried a fifth grader on your back up then down a mountain? Join Kendall to hear what happened in the great state of Washington with an "aggressively positive" climbing mate.

Garrett tells a story of restoration and healing involving love, loss, and the Boogeyman at Devil's Lake.

It is funny how nature can work it's way into our souls.  For Cali, even a heart-pounding, nail-biting "game not for the weak" sparked a sense of peace, place, and wholeness.

The Tennessee Smoky Mountains and waterfalls on a warm March day...Sounds amazing, doesn't it? Maybe-maybe not.  Izzy will explain.

Close your eyes.  Imagine it is night all around you and a fire is crackling. Now imagine the fire is not in a firering or fireplace but is the ground around you. Faith tells a story of magic and circumstance which will be sure to inspire.