Calling All Nature Enthusiasts: Meet Carter and RJ

Intro

Welcome to Birdie Van Blogs! My name is RJ! I am the writer responsible for these blog posts. Here is a little bit of information about Carter and I before you begin your reader experience:

Carter was born in East Palestine, Ohio. He was raised by his parents, Trent and Endia, alongside his brother, Parker. With a Bachelor of Art in Biology and a Minor in Environmental Studies, he has built a fondness for nature. Because of this, he has chosen to spend his life in pursuit of happiness in the form of travel and experience. He loves to rock climb, hike, play pickle ball and travel. For work, he spends his summers driving motor coaches in Skagway Alaska.

RJ was born in Glendale, Arizona. She is the middle of 3 kids, with Jadon being her younger brother, and Britni, her older sister. Her mom, Heather, raised her 3 kids with RJ’s stepdad, Scotty, and the two of them still live in Arizona in a retirement community. RJ loves to travel, just as Carter does, and has grown to appreciate every minute spent in the wilderness and beyond. She advocates for kindness and an environmentally friendly way of exploring, camping, and hiking. Her hobbies are bountiful, including writing, bracelet making and bird watching. She has been a bus driver since 2023. And also like Carter, she spends her summers in Skagway, Alaska as a tour guide for Alaska Coach Tours.

As a pair

Carter and RJ met in Colorado working for a summer camp as bus drivers and camp counselors. On June 4th, 2023, Carter asked RJ to be his girlfriend and from then on, they have been deeply in love. They have lived in many places such as Wyoming, Arizona and Alaska. Skagway, Alaska has been their favorite place so far and is where they plan on spending numerous summers in the future. In the winter of 2024-25, they converted a 2006 Ford E350 ambulance into a camper van they call “Birdie”. After the build, they took their first 30 day trip back to Skagway.

This blog will take you through real stories of RJ and Carter’s travels and show you the effect that people have on their surroundings. Enjoy reading these experiences through the eyes of nature lovers who are learning how to better themselves every day. Grow, learn, and explore with us. This is Birdie Van Blogs.