Karen McDaniel spent 45 years in education as a teacher, administrator and professor starting in Kindersley and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan before moving to Calgary, Alberta for a long career with the CBE. After retirement, she went on to Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington.  She eventually returned to Calgary to work at SAIT negotiating articulation agreements provincially, nationally and internationally so that SAIT graduates could take their two-year diplomas as two year credit towards four-year degrees.

This work afforded her many opportunities to travel for pleasure and work, so far to over 40 countries. When she really retired, her children were afraid that she would be bored and therefore needed some hobbies. Photography and geocaching – a world-wide scavenger game based on GPS coordinates – keep her very busy.  She is addicted to both!

She knows that every day that she is not listed in the obituaries, is going to be a good one!

The McDaniel’s Great African Adventure

In 2014, Karen and her daughter, Laurel, undertook their own African adventure to fulfill a birthday promise Karen made to her daughter. They planned a trip to Kruger Park in South Africa , Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It was an amazing holiday that included photographing everything that walked, flew and grew! They saw the Big Five animals plus so much more. The bird life was stunning as were the landscapes and experiences which included walking with lions, an elephant charge (totally unplanned!) and amazing sights and sounds. Nothing like experiencing a hippo scratching its back against the cabin foundation poles in the middle of the night or listening to baboons screeching through the night!

Her presentation will give you a taste of travelling in these areas and hopefully encourage you to look at such an adventure in your future.