Lauren Weber

It's hard to choose just one, but if I had to, I would love to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. This park offers a unique blend of stunning glaciers, awe-inspiring fjords, and an abundance of wildlife. I've always considered orcas to be my favorite animal. Even my stuffed animals as a kid were orcas. More than anything, I'd love to see one in the wild. Kenai Fjords National Park, being home to three different kinds of orcas, would be the perfect place to do this!

Growing up in a small town, traveling outside of the country, or even outside of my state, seemed unattainable, but I was determined to find a way to make travel my reality. When I was finally old enough, I took all of my savings and set off to explore a foreign country. I got on a plane to Spain not knowing anyone there or what would be in store. This turned out to be the best thing I could have ever done for myself. While abroad, I met my best friends and made many of my fondest memories!

It has always been a goal of mine to become scuba certified. With this money, I would fulfill my dream of completing a scuba certification course, and with my certification, I would join efforts with programs that teach about ocean restoration as well as inspire others to care about our oceans through diving. I would donate the remainder of the money to the nonprofit that I work for, which promotes ocean conservation and education, in an effort to give back and support a cause close to my heart!