​Day 1 – Cuyahoga Valley National Park

We’ve arrived at the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park Environmental Education Center, tucked into the heart of one of the most unique national parks in the country—and it’s already living up to its magic.

This place holds deep roots. Once home to the Indigenous peoples who lived in harmony with the winding river, and later transformed through farming, industry, and eventually conservation, Cuyahoga Valley National Park tells a story of resilience, restoration, and rebirth. We’re grateful to learn and live in this space for the next few days.

The cool, breezy weather has been the perfect welcome, and the wildlife seems just as excited for our arrival—bunnies darting through the grass, geese waddling by like they own the place, and a few deer gracefully watching us from the tree line.

Tomorrow, we board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, a 3.5-hour journey through the heart of the park that will allow us to see this stunning landscape from a new perspective—rolling through forested hills, past waterfalls and wetlands, and learning more about the natural and cultural stories along the way.

Camp #10 out of 13… and what a place to begin the final stretch. Let’s do this, Cuyahoga!