Alexander B., 14, of Salem, Va.

Ever since I was five years old, I have had a passion for snakes. It started when I was walking along a creek in our hometown of Salem, Virginia. I turned over a rock and discovered a small ring neck snake nuzzled into the dirt and I was entranced. I now keep records of the snakes I find including weather, habitat, location, habits, sex and length. When I hike, I take time to restore snake habitats.

Hiking to study my world is what I love to do! While trekking last week, I saw the most breathtakingly beautiful icicles formed on rocks. These cold delicate beauties are a joy to behold! I have learned a lot while hiking near my home in Kentucky. Learning to identify scats from the many wild critters that inhabit the nearby woods is like a mystery for me to solve from the given clues. What a challenge!

[At Denali National Park, Alaska] I saw a wolf interact with a grizzly bear attempting to get his share of a caribou carcass. ... [It] encouraged me to imagine the situation through a wolf’s eyes. We were happy as we sprinted across “big ditch.” We turned towards “cold high” and ran across “wet rocky.” The cold wind felt good in my face. I slowed down and the others followed as we saw a “fast food” and stalked it. Tolkrat moved up first. I shouted the command, “get ready.” We became tense. “Attack.” We charged.

After hiking for almost 3 hours in the sand and heat, we finally arrived at the location we had come to see. Exploring all around the area, I came around a bend and saw an oasis of swirling rock. It was blazing with color and beauty. Seeming as though a gift just for me, and no one around, light was filling the area. When I found this amazing sight I just had to capture it with my camera. Almost immediately after taking the picture the sun went behind clouds, and then I knew that the gift really was for only me.

Grace H., 14, of Whitinsville, Mass.

The air is cool and crisp. Leftover frozen leaves crunch as I walk towards a clump of trees. Glittering snow covers almost everywhere, the snow-laden branches drooping low with the weight like old men. But at the base of one tree, it is dry. As I look up, peering through the leaves and positioning my camera, the branches seem to be free of snow.

Metamorphosis is a change of character, appearance or condition in some creatures during development. My life has its own metamorphosis. I am changing and growing, experiencing the many phases of life. I use exploration as a tool to help me discover even more about my world and myself. Experiences and exploration form me into who I am, just like the butterfly.

Photography is how I explore my world because when I am behind a camera, it's as though I'm oblivious to what is happening outside the view of the lens, allowing me to fully connect with what I see. Up close and personal with nature, the camera is a window to my world. I especially like exploring the beach because of the many different wildlife species found there.

As I walk along the beach, each grain of sand tickles my toes. I scan the beach for shells. I am lucky! I find a sand dollar and then continue my search. I see a sea sponge lying near the shore and carefully pick it up. I see that it is living and I throw it back to the sea. A cluster of mollusk shells attracts my attention. ... As the sun sets, it makes a wonderful glow on the open water. I watch a fellow explorer, a dog, sniffing the salty seaweed.

Spotting a rabbit, I followed it, causing it to flee as if I were a bloodthirsty predator. Hearing a rustle of leaves, I snapped my head around, swiftly scanning the scrubland for signs of movement. The rabbit was long gone, but I wasn't alone. A glitter caught my eye. A glowing pair of yellow eyes watched me, sending a chill down my spine. Thinking it was dangerous, I turned looking for an escape, but my path was blocked by four mule deer with massive antlers.

… I have found that the most exciting place to explore, and escape to, is the "water park." At the water park I witness breathtaking sunsets, observe humongous fungi, and in as early as April I enjoy snorkeling through the mysterious milfoil forests. … Whoever would have thought my sweet escape would be hidden, two blocks away from my home, where it rains practically every day, and where squirming worms are my best friends.

I look out onto the lush scenery around me. The redwood trees are old and worn, the matriarchs of the forest. … I've discovered happiness and wonder as an explorer of the world. I love trying to guess what possibly could have made a footprint larger than my hand and watching the colors of the sunset slip behind the tree-dotted hill. … All in all, I'm proud to be a spider-saver, slug-kisser, mud-caked Maya.

… I came across a lake. I wanted a new way to take a picture of it. I searched and searched for that new perspective. After try[ing] a few different things, I found what I was looking for. What does a duck see? When you put your camera a few inches above the water, you can see both above and below the waves. It was a certain perspective, different from anything else.

I wake up early, the house is still and quiet. It's 6 a.m. and nobody is up except me. I grab my hat, slip on my shoes and I'm out the door and ready to explore! ... When it's warm and humid, I like looking for bull frogs hiding in the muddy shallows near the cattails. I see painted turtles bask on the rocky shore of the pond on hot, sunny days. When it's cool and dewy out, one of the best and most wonderful things to find is a golden orb spider.

My family and I share a lake that used to be a swamp, but my great-grandfather turned it into a wonderful lake. I always enjoyed exploring there because when I find something interesting, I feel like I've made an amazing discovery. ... I created a small museum and put all my fantastic discoveries in it. ... The rocks are my favorite part of the museum because they're each spectacular in their own special way.

What I discovered as a hands-on explorer is not a thing, but a place. A magical place, where nature comes alive, and all sorts of animals dwell. Whenever I visit my place, it is very quiet, and the snap of a branch startles me. In my place there is a creek, and over that creek I discovered a green bridge. The bridge stretches out its long arms across the creek so people can cross. ... I keep a journal of all the things I find in my place, like strange footprints or a piece of bark that looks like dragon skin.

Wendy Gorton