LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 18 Eventually I was going out at night to photograph the northern lights and meteor showers over the Adirondacks. It is so dark here that you can see far into the universe without a telescope. I managed to get a clear shot of the milky way one night, and the Interna- tional Space Station flew right over my head. It was a pretty cool experience. In 6th grade I began homeschooling, and it changed my life in a good way. It allowed me to focus more on my schooling with less distractions and my grades improved. And it provided me more time to go out and take pictures. Sometimes I'd go out and spend the mornings to take pictures on our boat and school would happen on those days in the afternoons. At the time, I didn't realize that I was leaving public school at a good time because, as it turned out later that same year, every- one left public school due to Covid. Homeschooling and living in the Adirondack Park provides me so much opportunity that I am grateful for. One is being a member of the Jr. Fire Department of Old Forge. It has been a very cool experience. Learning all about what it takes to help others is sometimes a lot, but it feels good to know how to help someone if called upon to do so. I really enjoy it. Last summer, I got my first job at The Old Forge Hardware where I learned to stock shelves and try to be helpful to customers. I also caught a glimpse of a ghost while at work, but that is another story. A new, very fun winter activity aside from downhill skiing at McCauley and cross country is being a team player with our new ice hockey program, "The Mighty Loons." I'd never ice skated until last winter and it's very fun. To get the chance to live and have fun in a place so full of beauty and adventure is pretty awe- some. Sometimes all I have to do is walk in my yard to catch a glimpse of something beautiful. Going out to take photos is always an adventure and there is no lack of adventure here in Old Forge. Recently my family and I started traveling a bit. We went to Utah and Colorado. I had never been to these places. We went to Arches & Canyonlands National Parks. It was a new experience everyday. One day we were in the Rockies of Colorado, and the next in the vast, red desert of Moab, Utah. When you live your whole life in one place as I have, it creates a sense of amazement when you see someplace new, and I love to take a photograph of that new place and immortal- ize the moment. Living in the Adirondacks, no one place is ever the same twice. You could be walking down a trail that you've walked a million times before and still be amazed at what you see when you reach the end. As part of my homeschool studies, I have designed and put together a photography website. If you would like to see some of my photos, please feel free to check it out. www.Greygardnerphotography.com "Learning all about what it takes to help others is sometimes a lot, but it feels good to know how to help someone if called upon to do so." -Grey Gardner

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