Amy Friedl

Connect What national park do you dream of visiting?

I plan to visit all of the parks in my mission to write a children's book for each one, but I am most excited about adventuring at the parks in Alaska. With such diverse landscape in that part of the country, I can't wait to take a wide range of photographs for my illustrator to use for inspiration, and to come up with the storyline for each book!

What has been your favorite adventure experience?

Hiking the Endless Wall trail at New River Gorge National Park is a current favorite. The first time I went, I was at my heaviest weight and really forced myself to get to the top. I was impressed with my own abilities and encouraged by my daughter's presence. Two years later and 140 pounds lighter, I went back to sit in that same spot. Watching the sun rise over the gorge as I reflected on who I had become over the last two years has now become a core memory.

What would you do with $10,000?

If awarded the $10,000, I would continue to write the Strong Girls Travel kids' book series. Each book is centered in a different national park and teaches a lesson about dealing with real-life conflicts. My desire with these books is that young girls would feel motivated to learn and inspired to travel as adults, defining their own NP adventures. I'd also look into offset printing my books so that my illustrator's work doesn't have to rely on the inconsistencies of print-on-demand companies.