What is a North Alabama Ambassador?
A North Alabama Ambassador is someone who represents our region well through their photos, videos, and blogs on social media. It's someone who explores, seeks adventure, captures the beauty of north Alabama, and shares it with the rest of us. It's someone who ultimately makes us want to go out and explore for ourselves.
We’re looking for a team of 20 people from all over north Alabama to be our North Alabama Ambassadors. We want to feature your amazing talent, so we’re looking for people who are exploring, photographing, and posting about north Alabama’s outdoors, attractions, festivals, and food. As a North Alabama Ambassador, you’ll receive:
- North Alabama swag (t-shirt, cap, etc.)
- Featured on our website landing page for North Alabama Ambassadors
- Featured on our social media platforms (we’ll tag you on social to introduce you to our followers)
- Featured on our blog (we’ll share your blog posts if you’re a blogger)
- You’ll also be able to use the title North Alabama Ambassador on your social accounts and website
Our goal for the North Alabama Ambassador program is to find people who are passionate about the north Alabama region and are posting their adventures on social media or on a blog. We want to highlight your amazing talent to further promote our 16-county region.
HOW TO BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
What you’ll be required to do as a North Alabama Ambassador:
- Fill out the application
- Live in or near the 16 counties of the north Alabama region (List of counties)
- Follow us on all social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok)
- Subscribe to our Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama podcast
- Use the #visitnorthal hashtag on your north Alabama pics
- Tag us in your north Alabama pics
- Write blog posts (1-2 posts if you feel comfortable writing)
- Create content to use on all platforms
- Need to post regularly about north Alabama (7-10 posts representing our brand per month)
- Share our content (at least 2 per week)
- Share Leave No Trace principles on outdoor posts
- Help promote our trails
- Be a guest on a podcast episode
- Be willing to do some contests on your social media
- Be willing to take on assignments/covering certain festivals, attractions, restaurants, etc.
- Assist in getting members for Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
- Don’t use profanity, vulgar language, nudity (or partial nudity) in north Alabama pics we are tagged in or that uses the #visitnorthal hashtag
- List that you're a North Alabama Ambassador in your Instagram profile and tag us
- Wear your swag when possible
If you’re interested and think you'll have time to dedicate to this program, here’s the next step:
Fill out our North Alabama Ambassador application and tell us why you would like to represent north Alabama’s outdoors, attractions, festivals, and food. This isn’t English class, so it doesn’t need to be a super long essay. Just tell us why this program interests you in several, thoughtful sentences. We’re not making decisions based on how many followers you have but rather how passionate you are about north Alabama and how well you are already representing our beautiful region.
DEADLINE: December 30, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW AMBASSADORS: January 9, 2023
AMBASSADORS
Kelsey Beauvais
Instagram @detectiveskips
As long as I can remember, I’ve felt more at home outdoors than within the comfort of a house. I loved staying out late and exploring the woods around our neighborhood until long after the street lamps turned out. My dad was also a huge encourager of my love for the outdoors. Many family vacations involved cave tours, incredible hikes, and exploring old ruins. I adventured by myself for several years before meeting my husband, and he has been my adventuring partner ever since.
We have hiked and climbed in the Rockies, in the Smokies, and in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but my own neighborhood mountains, caves, rivers, and waterfalls have remained my favorites. From hiking all over Monte Sano (my favorite place in the world) to kayaking down miles and miles of the Flint River, the outdoors of North Alabama are my happy place.
I have lived in Huntsville for most of my life, and I feel after all these years of exploring I have merely scratched the surface of what our area has to offer and I cannot wait to share those experiences with everyone I can!
Johnny Belew
Instagram @johnnybelew
I have been a Shoals resident for over 30 years. In that time, I’ve been to lots of places, and i’m always very pleased when I see that Muscle Shoals city limits sign. None like it anywhere else.
In 2015, I was named the first Colbert County Tourism Ambassador. I try every day to tell someone about where I live: the rich musical history, the great artists, the great food, and the great people who have come from this area. I am looking forward to sharing more with this new group. As I say often, "The circle gets bigger."
Lesia Bevis
Instagram @lesia.bevis
I love exploring and hiking all over North Alabama. One of my favorite things is chasing waterfalls, but I also enjoy anytime spent outdoors soaking up nature. I have found that to be the best stress relief there is, just leave your worries behind for a while and get out on a trail. I take lots of pictures on all my adventures and share them on my Instagram page so others can see the beauty this state has to offer. It is true what they say, Alabama really is beautiful. Come follow along with me, you never know where I will end up next, or what kinds of hidden treasures I will come across in the woods. Everyone should take time for an adventure in North Alabama, there is so much to see and do.
Sherry Brown
Instagram @snbrown62
One of the coolest aspects of photography is the growth and constant learning. I started with landscape photography about 5 years ago. As a counselor by profession, my camera is my self care. I pick it up, walk into nature and exhale. Everything melts away in that moment of creativity and passion! My greatest love is waterfalls, barns, and anything country! I love exploring the State of Alabama and finding new adventures!
Justin Carter
Instagram @hightideaerials
Facebook facebook.com/HighTideAerials
YouTube youtube.com/@hightideaerials9339
Website www.HighTideAerials.com
When you grow up somewhere, sometimes you take it for granted. I knew Alabama was beautiful, but until recently I did not realize just how MANY beautiful locations there are just down the road in Northeast Alabama. I picked up photography about 5 years ago. Since then I have been taking photos and video non stop of all the amazing landscapes Alabama has to offer. Join me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @HighTideAerials.
Jennifer Clark
Instagram @wherewillwegonext
Facebook www.facebook.com/wherewillwegonext
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com › @wherew...wherewillwegonext
Hi everyone, I’m Jennifer Clark. Along with my husband, Kyler, my two daughters, and our very spoiled beagle, I love spending time camping and exploring new places. Camping allows our family to be in some of the most beautiful areas and get the quality time we want as a family. My favorites are small towns, campfires, coffee shops, festivals, and Alabama State Parks. I love sharing my adventures and I hope to inspire you to get out and explore too. Follow along to see Where Will We Go Next.
Coleman Concierge: Jenn & Ed Coleman
Website colemanconcierge.com
Instagram instagram.com/coleman_concierge
Instagram instagram.com/conciergecorner
Facebook facebook.com/colemanconcierge
Twitter twitter.com/ColemanConcierg
Pinterest pinterest.com/colemanconcierg
Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
We advocate for sustainable and ethical tourism and truly believe in the power of travel to transform both ourselves as well as the world around us. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we contend that you don’t have to be super-rich, super-fit, or super-anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.
Brad Felton
YouTube As The Crow Flies Hiking
Instagram @asthecrowflieshiking
Facebook Crow Flies Hiking
TikTok @asthecrowflieshiking
Brad Felton, AKA “Crow” from “As The Crow Flies Hiking” on YouTube. I am a hiker, backpacker, kayaker, and anything else that involves a trail to adventure. I live in Birmingham and hike all over the Southeast. (You need anymore information?)
Christal & Cash Gamble
Instagram www.instagram.com/mamasweetbaby
Blog mamasweetbaby.wordpress.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/mamasweetbabyblog/
YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCakllnN7wjesn2uoxBoQYpQ
TikTok www.tiktok.com/@mamasweetbaby1
Twitter twitter.com/Mamasweetbaby1
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/mamasweetbaby/
Christal and her 6 year old son, Cash, are Learning at Home Enthusiasts from Madison, Alabama. Their Instagram platform, @Mamasweetbaby, was created to give encouragement and inspiration to other parents that believe that the parent is a child’s first and most important teacher. As a long time local that grew up in the Triana area, Christal shares not only her experience as a homeschooler with others but her love of nature and how to use it as an educational tool.
Mark Hicks
Instagram www.instagram.com/markhicksphotos
Facebook www.facebook.com/markhicksphotos
Website www.markhicksphotos.com
Hi! My name is Mark Hicks. I'm a husband, dad of two boys and a girl. My wife, Jannette, and I love to explore the beautiful state of Alabama. I was born and raised in beautiful northeast Alabama and I reside in Calhoun County. I graduated with a BSB from Faulkner University. I'm a full time photographer, an Army veteran, and a musician. I started my photography endeavor back in 2016, and I really enjoy it. Photography has been an important part of my life. The Hicks family loves camping, hiking, kayaking, and enjoying the lovely sounds of waterfalls. I'm a history buff, and nothing excites me more than experiencing a bit of history during our adventures. Alabama is rich in history. We have yet to explore all of Alabama, but it's on our agenda.
Cody Hood
Instagram @ensaneoutdoors
YouTube https://youtube.com/@ensaneoutdoors77
I'm a 45 year old husband, father, and love being outdoors. I live in Addison, AL, just a few miles from Bankhead National Forest. I love hiking, camping, backpacking, biking, and kayaking in Bankhead and the Sipsey Wilderness Area (no biking there). I love getting out and finding the waterfalls in and around Bankhead and Sipsey and love to hear or read about the history of those places. My family and I also love to camp at Cherokee Rock Village. It's such a beautiful place. I'm also a baseball fan (Go Angels) and we try to catch a few Trash Pandas games during the season. Follow along for adventures from all over North Alabama.
Sam Hurst
Instagram @s2travels and @ssquaredtravels
YouTube Sam Hurst
Hello! We’re the Hurst family (aka s2travels on Instagram) and we love exploring our beautiful home region of North Alabama! Born and raised in NoAla, we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to travel all around our great state, country, and worldwide, but truly believe that North Alabama is such a hidden gem that we’d love to share. We love everything the area has to offer: hiking, kayaking, camping, local eateries, festivals, and all the unique things that truly make this area Home Sweet Home. We hope you’ll follow along with our little family as we share all our favorite local spots and who knows, maybe we’ll see you there!
Jacob Kirk
Instagram @forknhsv
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ForknHsv
Thirteen years ago I moved from a small town in Northeast Arkansas to Huntsville, Alabama. My father had just retired from the US Army and my mother was working as the COO for the United Way of Madison County. I graduated from Grissom High School in 2016, and no I never went to the new school, I was one of the last classes to graduate from the old campus. Huntsville is my home and I have fallen in love with everything that it has to offer! I love Animals, Hiking, Photography, Music, and Food. North AL is my home and I enjoy sharing all that it has to offer. I run ForknHSV on Instagram and Facebook. Follow along with my adventures as I share everything that North AL has to offer.
Victoria McCool
Instagram @blendd.fam.adventures
Snapchat chevyvicut89
Vero blenddfamadventures
Hey y'all, for those who don't know me, I am Victoria who is 33yrs old, happily married to my best friend of 5yrs Josh! I am a mother to an 11yr old son, an 8yr old son, and a 2yr old daughter!!! I was born, raised, and stil reside in a small community called Sandtown in Tuscaloosa County. As a child I grew up in nature from the time I started walking with my now almost 90yr old grandfather that I carried the passion for nature from.
In 2021, I gave up my job to become a stay at home mom with the kids full time and little did I know I would become a traveling mom and sharing nature with them as much as we do....but it's become our way of getting away from electronics and learn more about what nature has to offer us and hopefully one day they will carry on the tradition on as well. Hope to inspire a family to get out and adventure more with their kids in nature more!!!
David Parham
Instagram @huntsvilleadventurer
Facebook facebook.com/HuntsvilleAdventurer
Twitter twitter.com/HSVadventurer
Website www.huntsvilleadventurer.com
Bio: I grew up in Birmingham, went to college in Tuscaloosa, and currently live in Huntsville as an engineer. I grew up climbing. I was driven outdoors by finding anywhere I could go climb. Climbing quickly turned me into a camper as we would go climbing for a weekend and needed a place to sleep. Camping turned me into a waterfall hunter as I often needed a place to cool down while camping during summer. Waterfall hunting turned me into a hiker as I learned to enjoy the process of finding waterfalls. When I'm not at home, at work, or at Jiu Jitsu, I love exploring the outdoors with my 2 daughters and wife. We love spending our time exploring North Alabama and seeing all the different views, caves, and waterfalls that it has to offer.
Sherye Price
Instagram @sheasday
Sherye Price grew up in Alabama hiking Bankhead Forest with her family. She learned the value of Leave No Trace from her dad at an early age. Today, she teaches those same guidelines to her nephew and three nieces. Sherye loves to hike and kayak. She is a county-level economic developer who cannot turn down a drive through the backwoods of Alabama, hiking trails, visiting roadside attractions, seeing all things abandoned, or a beautiful sunset.
Angie Shugart
Instagram @a_shugart
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/angie.shugart
TikTok @awshugart75
Angie was raised on Lookout Mountain and has experienced the outdoors in every element. Her passions are hiking, canoeing and rock climbing and she takes pride in her community by organizing litter cleanups each year so visitors can enjoy the pristine scenery.
Over the years she has shared the great outdoors with 1000s of participants through the organization One World Adventure & Little River Waterkeeper that she and her husband founded in 2008. She continues to love and appreciate the area and is excited to share her adventures!
The Wandering Families
Instagram @thewanderingfamilies
Facebook The Wandering Families
Blog www.thewanderingfamilies.com
Hi! We’re Sara and Irene. Mom friends with a love for traveling. We help adventurous mamas feel inspired, confident, and prepared to take their families out to explore the world around them.
We are both married to our high school sweethearts with kids the same age. Between our two families, we have 5 kids, 5 and under. We have both settled in our hometown, Athens, Alabama, where Sara is a cartographer, and Irene is a photographer.
Our passion for travel and adventure has only become stronger in Motherhood as we show the world to our kids and cultivate our family bonds outside of the everyday grind.
We love sharing tips for RV weekenders, everyday life adventures in the backyard, sensory play, hiking with kids, and realistic weekend trips around North Alabama that leave you feeling refreshed and recharged instead of overwhelmed and discouraged.
Jamie Williams
Instagram @jamie_tyler_photography
TikTok @Jamie_Tyler_photography
Facebook www.facebook.com/jamietylerphotography
Website www.jamietylerphotography.com
I am a native of the North Alabama area, I started taking pictures when I was little. My family bought me my first camera and I’m pretty sure I broke them by taking rolls of film to Walmart to have them developed. I am a self taught photographer, I have spent unknown hours watching YouTube videos and putting them into practice. I am a family man. I have my gorgeous wife Courtney who has been by my side since I was 16 years old. I am a father to 3 little girls, who definitely have their dad wrapped around their fingers. I am a veteran to this great country, I served 8 years in the Alabama National Guard with a deployment to Afghanistan under my belt. I was always told that I could see beauty in everything, through my lens I hope I can share the beauty of the North Alabama area.
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