Our Story

Welcome to The Wild Welcome

Hi, I'm Mel, and I'm so glad you're here.

The Wild Welcome grew from a lifetime of lessons passed down through three generations of incredible women.

My great-grandmother introduced me to the beauty of the outdoors while we fished, explored the woods, and discovered wildlife together in South Georgia. My grandmother sparked my love of travel. Having lived abroad and continuing to explore the world well into her nineties, she taught me that curiosity doesn't have an expiration date. My mother devoted her career to working with older adults as a gerontologist, showing me how meaningful it is to create experiences that bring joy, connection, and lifelong learning.

Those influences eventually came together in an unexpected place—our own backyard.

What started as a simple feeding rock soon became a gathering place for birds, rabbits, squirrels, turtles, ducks, cranes, and countless other visitors. As I began photographing and filming their daily lives, I realized that extraordinary moments don't always happen in distant places. Sometimes they're waiting just outside our own doors.

That little rock behind our house became a front-row seat to some of the best stories nature had to tell.

And it became the inspiration for The Wild Welcome.

Today, The Wild Welcome brings together wildlife, travel, visual storytelling, and nature-based educational and enrichment experiences designed to inspire curiosity, create meaningful connections, and help people of all ages rediscover the wonder of the natural world.

From the wildlife in our own backyard to the incredible creatures and wild places we encounter through travel, there's always something new to discover—and another story waiting to be told.

Whether you've come to meet our backyard visitors, explore the world through wildlife, learn something new, or simply slow down and enjoy a quiet moment in nature, you're welcome here.

Because every visitor has a story to tell.