Alaska Guide: Aubree Schutt

Short Bio:    I was born and raised in North Carolina. Although traveling came later in life, I was fortunate enough to roam twenty-three acres of woods, splash through creeks and rivers, climb numerous trees, and develop my passion for the outdoors in the land that surrounded my childhood home. I learned early that exploring in the woods could sooth the stresses of life and followed my passion for the outdoors into college.
I graduated top of my class from East Carolina University with a BS in Outdoor Recreation. While gaining my degree, I started to learn the art of guiding by leading my peers in university based trips. These experiences allowed me to pursue the start of a career in the outdoors. I have always loved seeing new places and meeting new people, but the real reward of guiding has been watching the effect it has on people and knowing that these experience could be those that could stay with them forever.
My next career path will be that of a nurse. I can take my passion of helping people and mix that with witnessing life changing experiences, all while still being able to come back to a home each day. I will always love the outdoors and pursue as many opportunities to travel that are presented to me, but I am lucky enough to have this summer, guiding with my best friend Pam, to be my last hurrah before I start class at Duke in the fall and dive into a career as a nurse.

Trips Guided by Aubree:

My favorite destination?
The non-populated islands off of Camden, Maine where you can sit on a rocky beach and look at the Camden Hills. 

What destination would you like to visit?
Any and all of the Islands off of Italy. I would like to sit and enjoy the scenery, explore the cliff sides and the water, and meet the locals. 

What’s your favorite bike ride?
Biking through the country side of eastern North Carolina to see beautiful but abandoned plantation homes.

What is your favorite hike?
Backpacking with the wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park. 

What's your favorite historical site, castle, museum, etc?
Cumberland Island in Georgia is a beautiful island blanketed in live oak trees that would let you explore half of the island without ever touching the ground. 

What do you do that makes a guest's vacation special?
I really enjoy getting to know new people and learning what motivates them in life. I know that the trips that I have been on and the people that I have met have allowed me to reflect on my life in a way that allows me to continue to grow as a person. I want these vacations for our guests to be one that lets the stressors of home life stay at home and to give them the freedom to experience what they really enjoy. Whether that is an exciting bike ride, a leisurely stroll around town, or spending time with their loved ones, I want to know our guests well enough to give them the opportunity to reflect on and remember what makes them happy. 

What are your hobbies?
I really enjoy making things. I have crafty decorations around my house and I just made a mirror with 3'x4' frame for my sister which allowed me to learn how to use a router and how hard matching 4 corners can really be. I have aspirations of making a picnic table and chairs for my yard and finishing a barn for my horse. 

When did you first catch the travel bug?
I have always loved to travel, but it hit me hard when I spent 6 weeks kayaking the coast of Maine. I saw countless beautiful places and met so many wonderful people. I was free of any ties at the point and could completely submerse myself into the experience. I got a full serving of how beautiful this world can be and I knew that I would need to keep seeing more.