Kyle Kelley (BA Earth Science, 1999)

I basically help the owner of Alaska Wildland Adventures - an Alaskan-owned, well-recognized adventure travel company that specializes in natural/cultural history adventures trips during the summer. I've been here 12 years total but the last 6 years full time, year round. To learn more about what we do and offer, you can reference our website, www.alaskawildland.com My job is to make sure all of the staff have the tools and direction to do their jobs well. Our goal is deliver excellent trips to our clients and to take care of our staff.

I really enjoy the job - and I should because we just a won a huge award from the Wall Street Journal that named us one of the top 15 small businesses to work for. You can check out the award at www.winningworkplaces.org/topsmallbiz/index.php

The knowledge I gained from my time in the CWU Geology Department has helped to improve our natural history education manuals for our staff and guests. Alaska has endless geology topics to educate people on and I have become, by default, the resident geologist for the company. I use my knowledge daily by just looking at the young Alaskan landscapes that surround us. The amount of earthquakes that we get here keep you on your toes! If you like volcanoes and glaciers, we've got them coming out of every corner. Also lots of sedimentary rock to talk about, not to mention that I can see five different glaciers from my living room.

I live in Girdwood, Alaska. It is about 45 minutes south of Anchorage and home to Alyeska Ski Resort (the only one in Alaska).

Married to Stacy. No kids yet! During the winter I spend my free time skiing with my wife, both in the backcountry and at the resort. During the summer I try to do as much as possible because we have a ton of daylight to work with. I really enjoy fishing for trout, whitewater rafting, running, mountain biking, backpacking and just being outside as much as possible.

I truly loved my experience while earning my geology degree from CWU. I especially loved our field sessions doing mapwork in Owens Valley, CA. I also enjoyed spending time with Dr. Karl in geomorphology class driving all over Central Washington looking at awesome landscapes. If my wife would let me, I would do it again.

I think Nick should run a CWU trip to visit the national parks of Alaska. I know the students would love it and I am sure the instructor would too! Let me know if you need help with planning. I know of some really cool spots to visit.