Naturalists | 09.19.24
Laysea Hughes
When Travel Meets Sustainability + Creativity
Tell us about yourself!
I was born and raised in a small town on the east coast of Florida, and have lived a fluid ~ on the go sort of travel lifestyle for the past 9 years. After high school graduation I moved into my ‘83 Volkswagen and headed cross-country; I never resonated with the conventional path, so instead of college I self-enrolled in the ‘school-of-life’ and hit the road on a mission of self discovery. Along the way I fell in love with documenting life through my lens, and creating art with humans whose paths weaved into mine.
What can concerned athletes, scientists, artists or creatives do in the face of global challenges?
Gosh I feel like this is such an existential question. Honestly in the face of any challenges it’s so important to first and foremost take care of yourself; you can not pour from an empty cup. Beyond self care, eating healthy, exercising, etc, making changes at home is the first step, so whether the global challenges are injustice, climate change, poverty etc, there are simple changes & conversations & actions we can take at home and within our family / close friend unit that can have an impact. I would always highly suggest doing you own research to be informed about the crisis at hand to make educated decisions, which can also aid in educating others, as well.
How important is mitigating climate change to your life?
Reversing climate change is essential. As a Floridian I have watched sea levels rise over the years, and I am painfully aware that my childhood home on the beach will be underwater before the end of my lifetime if there isn’t serious change.
Can you tell us a bit about your passions beyond “work”?
My passions have always been rooted in the outdoors; I was raised by two nature lovin’ parents, we spent most of our time outside, adventuring, and relaxing in nature. Growing up on the coast in Florida I have a deep love for the ocean, but also crave to know the mountains and deserts, which is what initially sparked my first road trip that became a full time travel lifestyle. I love running outdoors, hiking, kayaking, surfing, camping, or anything that gets me in nature.
Do you find that these passions blend, merge or complement your work?
I feel so incredibly blessed to have found my work organically through my passions. I have always been an artist taking on many forms, but photography and writing became a way for me to process & share my experiences, which has so beautifully turned into my career. My work is birthed from my passions.
How do you give back to your community or to the underserved?
I work with a Womens Outdoor Mentorship Program (WOMP) with Changing Tides Foundation locally that is devoted to giving access to the ocean and surfing to underserved women. I also volunteer when available.
At the end of the day, why do you do your craft? Are there goals ahead, a constant love for the process, or a yearning to learn more?
Capturing moments through imagery, film or writing is where I am in my sweetest flow state. I do have a constant love for the process, even the business side of things (outreach / emails / building a pitch) but I really love storytelling, and feel like creating is a part of me discovering my story and who I am. I of course have business (financial & benchmark or status) goals, and separate from that I have personal goals (destinations and experiences) related to my business, and all the while always eager to continue to learn and grow.
A book that shaped your life?
I read the Alchemist on my first road trip across the country (9 years ago!!) which was so doubly fitting.
Who inspires you today?
Honestly my mom is my biggest inspiration. If you could see their yard right now she probably has at least 2 handmade signs advocating for BIPOC communities, likely something about recycling, and something else liberal haha. I love her. She’s always inspired me to eat healthy, with lots of fruits and veggies, and she always shops at the local produce stand. She takes the 4 ‘R’s of recycle very seriously (almost too seriously if you saw how many items she saves instead of tossing in the green bin) and she’ll be the first in my hometown to start / attend a womxn's march, BLM protest or any other cause-worthy event.
Any big moments of Zen in the outdoors?
Surfing has brought me some of my biggest zen moments. The ocean is so humbling, and surfing is not an easy sport, so it’s a mix of being in tune with your body, finding a flow state but also submitting to nature and letting go. Saltwater is my favorite way to cleanse my aura / energy field. Movement & surrender.
What do you do when you get out and away from the office/lab?
My go-to is running outdoors or surfing.
How can the outdoor industry act to affect change with regard to outdoor recreation and public lands?
Throughout this revolution that really gained momentum over the last few years I have seen activists create petitions, host rallies, create text and populate their pages with influence urging their community to join them in this CTA, and I feel like there has been a void in action from the outdoor industry namely clothing brands that claim to be so new age and pro change. I’d like to see the outdoor industry take a stance against / take action for preservation of lands, hiring influential people who have dedicated their outreach to outdoor preservation and public spaces and giving them the tools they need to succeed.
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