Kobie at the 2012 Explorers Symposium

Posted by 2011 Kids Expedition Team in Hands-On Explorer on June 25, 2012
i-c65abaced69bbc7babc8c9c720c63268-kobie-symposium.jpg

It’s been nearly a year since I first stepped off the airplane and onto the island of Grand Cayman. I still remember the way the airport smelled. The air was thick and fragrant. The pungent scents of fish, salt spray, and fruit swirled around me, hinting at the richness of the culture I was about to enter. The week I spent on that tiny Caribbean island was one of the best experiences of my life. With new friends, a camera, and a whole new world to explore, I was, quite literally, in paradise.

Winning the Hands-On Explorer Challenge has opened my eyes to the greater world. My perspective of everything has changed. With help from my camera, I now see everything as a work of art. To me, nothing is unworthy of attention. Beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places. Because I am aware of the seemingly insignificant things in life, I am able to see the whole world as a wondrous place.

I was fortunate enough to go to the 2012 National Geographic Explorers Symposium this summer. There I met several remarkable people who have followed their passion for exploring into adulthood. Seeing the enthusiasm of these men and women was incredibly inspiring. Because of my experiences, I understand that exploring isn’t just a kid’s adventure in the backyard; people actually make it their career. The opportunity to travel and discover seems like such an amazing job. For me, the Symposium was a chance to learn about what it really means to be an explorer. It is up to people like them–like us–to discover and share the beauty of the Earth, so that we will be able to preserve it.

When I first glimpsed Grand Cayman from the air, a spark was ignited in me. It was late at night, and the flickering lights of the island sparkled like jewels against the velvet black of the sea. I thought about all the lives down there; sleeping people in their beds, colorful fish concealed within coral crevices, lizards hidden beneath stones. It was then that I began to appreciate the full extent of the world, and of all the places yet to be explored.

Tags: ,
Categories: Hands-On Explorer Challenge

Comments

  1. Geckoguy122
    June 30, 2012, 9:11 am

    Wow – she is a great writer. :) I am already so excited for the next HOEC. It will be my last chance… I HAVE to win. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose all 3 chances…

  2. Geckoguy122
    June 30, 2012, 9:16 am

    One week until the winners get to explore Montana! Who is ready?

  3. Geckoguy122
    June 30, 2012, 11:10 am

    I wonder why she was the only one… :/ I know she is an amazing writer and her essay was great, but it doesn’t seem fair…

  4. Geckoguy122
    July 2, 2012, 2:33 pm

    Hey guys! Yesterday there were hurricane winds at 80mph all night long. When I woke up, a tree in my neighbors yard even fell over! Also, there were hundreds of huge green beetles everywhere! I wonder if it had something to do w/ the storm…

    Ans Skimp, I just realized that I’m going to Greenbrier too! I knew we were going camping in a state park, but just now I realized it was Greenbrier. That’s really weird that we are going to the same place! I will upload pics to My Shot and see if you recognize the places I go.

    ~Gecko~

  5. thejunglegirl
    July 3, 2012, 8:32 pm

    Hi Geckoguy122 -

    This is Kobie from the Cayman trip. All the kids who went to Washington D.C. for the Explorers Symposium were invited to write about their experience. I was the only one who wrote simply because I was probably the only one who got around to it! :)

    Anyway, I wish you the best of luck in the next HOEC competition! You’ll definitely have a chance to win if you write from the heart. You have plenty of time to take the perfect picture and think about your essay topic. Good luck!

    - Kobie

  6. geckoexplorer
    July 5, 2012, 6:19 pm

    Hi Kobie
    This is geckoguy on my new account (my last username was weird). Anyway, I realized that right after I commented. I guess I talk too much… :P The funny thing is I was at the NG Museum in early June.
    ~Gecko~

  7. Little Dragonfire
    July 7, 2012, 12:33 am

    You must have really enjoyed the trip.

  8. Little Dragonfire
    July 7, 2012, 9:58 am

    Kobie,
    I was just wondering, if you knew about how many essays were turned in. Also, when you wrote your essay, did they give you a prompt to start on? Just wondering.
    ~Dragon~

  9. King of Rome
    July 8, 2012, 11:17 am

    I wish that I was you

  10. Little Dragonfire
    July 9, 2012, 4:40 pm

    IKR? She is so lucky to be able to go on one of the HOEC trips.

  11. thejunglegirl
    July 11, 2012, 12:47 pm

    Hi everyone -

    That’s so cool that you got to go to the NG Museum, geckoexplorer! I also got to go to the museum when I was in Washington, D.C. for the Explorers Symposium. What was your favorite exhibit? When I went, there was a show on the Titanic, which was super cool.

    Little Dragonfire, I’m not sure how many entries were received this year. I think there were a little over a thousand or so when I entered.

    - Kobie

  12. geckoexplorer
    July 11, 2012, 8:05 pm

    @Kobie-

    I have gone twice, since I live only 30 minutes from the museum. The first time there was a gecko exhibit, and recently when there was the race to the north pole theme. Unfortunately, they usually only have one exhibit at a time. When I asked the person at the front desk where the other exhibits were, she pointed to the ceiling and said, “Well there is the Grand Canyon exhibit…” It was this tiny model of the Grand Canyon. XD That doesn’t really count… But just being there was cool. I also bought a camera case at the gift shop which was severely over priced. :P

    And did you see the aquarium when you went? It is the tall glass building that looks like the is a jungle inide. I have been pretty much everywhere in DC.

    Little Dragonfire, it said something about in the NGK Magazine article for the Cayman winners. Lets’s see… “Thousands will enter, vew will win.” That was in the ‘Fine Print’. :P Oh yes, I see you in there, Kobie! You are writing in your Nature Journal… in another picture you are wearing Addidas pants… XD I feel like a stalker. ^.^ Nevermind.

    Keep blogging guys!

    ~~~~~Gecko~~~~~
    (2013 Trip-to-be :P )

  13. geckoexplorer
    July 11, 2012, 8:08 pm

    Oh yes, and I have seen that Titanic show on the National Geographic channel. I liked it, but it is sad that so many people died. Hopefully tragedies like that can be avoided in the future.

    ~Gecko~

  14. Harrison79872
    October 23, 2012, 10:58 pm

    Hey Kobie!(Bengie the jungle girl) Remember me by chance? haha I was feeling a bit nostalgic so I decided to look at my essay that got me started with photography, and I found this page! I cant believe I missed being at the symposium with y’all!!! Im working it in to my schedule to drive up their next summer though! It feels like forever ago that we left the Caymans dosent it? Since then im sure we have all grown so different then we were on that first day when we met everyone (and I ate basically everything in sight). I know I have, I learned to drive a year ago, I have to deal with the responsibilities of looking at colleges I want to attend (for a photography major), and so much more. But its clear that what I learned on the trip is now a lasting part of me:) For anyone who thinks they may be interested in this contest, take the chance. You may surprise yourself.

  15. geckoexplorer
    October 30, 2012, 2:16 pm

    Hi Harrison, Kobie hasn’t commented for half a year and this post is old, so you probably won’t get a reply. I’m going to enter HOEC ’13 and hopefully win, it’s my last chance since I’m 13. I broke down the chances for winning recently, and I think I have about a 50% chance of winning. Oh, and can you use you Hands-On Explorerness to get them to chose the destination and post it already? Their so late. :/
    ~Gecko~

You must be logged in to post a comment.