My favorite activity is growing up all over again with my kids, Ida and Arlo.
Peace Corps
From 2011-2013, I served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Morocco. I lived with my partner in a Berber town in the Ouarzazate Province. Our projects spanned health infrastructure — we built bathrooms at the local school — and education — we started a peer education program to help local high school students teach their peers about health and HIV/AIDS. I also worked with other volunteers to organize the country’s first national English spelling bee competition.
My friend, Drew, came to visit me and took beautiful photos while he was there. If you’d like to see photos of where we lived, check out his blog post (or see his other photos of Morocco here, here, here, and here).
Outdoors
I love spending time outdoors when I get a chance. I enjoy rock climbing, mountaineering, and backpacking (both solo and with friends and family). I’ve volunteered from time to time with the Seattle-based outdoor education nonprofit Cascade Leadership Challenge, organizing group climbs on Mt. Hood, Mt. Baker, and Mt. St. Helens. Consider donating to support a Seattle-based youth outdoor leadership program.
Marine Mammal Care
When I lived in Los Angeles, I volunteered extensively at the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, CA, where I nurtured and rehabilitated sick and injured seals and sea lions. It was a long time ago but it was a formative experience. Check out their site for lots of cute seal and sea lion pics and videos. And donate while you’re there.