The Journey to CriaTrek
Updated: Oct 22
by Alexa Janoschka
It started with a nickname I couldn't quite explain: "Alexa Llama".
My sister and I seeing llamas for the first time
Growing up in Georgia, I didn't have any routine exposure to llamas or alpacas, but for some reason, my younger self decided they were the greatest animals on earth. I fully embraced the identity. I collected the toys, plastered my walls with pictures, and in 2012, I even started my own polymer clay studio called "Llama Charmz" You may think the use of a "z" is edgy, but its really because I'm dyslexic. Llamas became a quiet, constant thread woven throughout my creative and personal pursuits.
Years later, when I moved to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University, I brought that thread with me. I decorated my incredibly tiny dorm room with my collection of llama stuffed animals and a prized llama photo. I didn't know why I held onto them so tightly; it was just a gut feeling that they belonged with me.
College was a time of immense exploration. I dove into lighting technology within one of the top drama programs in the country. During a time of immense growth, I tried my hand at cheerleading, football, fitness, making friends, cooking, and social media. I was throwing myself into every new experience I could find. But beneath the surface of that high-achieving environment, the ground was shifting.
The transition from being a solo college student to moving back into a bustling family of nine during COVID-19, coupled with the intense pressure of a highly competitive school, took its toll. After a painful breakup and the isolating aftermath of the pandemic, I completely lost touch with the things that made me who I was.
I hit a wall. My mental and physical health deteriorated, leading to a long, grueling battle with an eating disorder and depression that ultimately resulted in a month-long stay in the hospital. I was surviving, barley, and I was entirely disconnected from myself and the world around me.
The turning point arrived unexpectedly. After a frustrating argument with my mom, I needed an escape. On a pure whim, I drove to a local llama and alpaca farm. I didn't just visit; I started volunteering.
While I was still actively navigating the hardest season of my life, getting my hands dirty and working with those animals began to pull me back to the surface. No matter how much internal or external turmoil I faced during the week, I knew exactly where I was going on the weekend. The farm gave me an anchor. Being outside, breathing the fresh air, and earning the trust of the camelids gave me a reason to rebuild myself.
That healing process was the genesis of CriaTrek.
What began as a desperate, personal need to reconnect with the natural world has evolved into a dedicated mission. CriaTrek is built on the profound belief that nature and animal connection have the power to bring us back to life. Today, this venture is expanding into a comprehensive platform designed to connect individuals with nature-based outdoor activities and wellness programs. It has transformed my life so completely that my childhood nickname has become my reality—right down to adopting my own spotted llama, Reese, and pursuing specialized camelid care to ensure these animals are deeply understood and advocated for.
Double 8's Reese Outrageous
We are developing CriaTrek into a bridge for others who are burnt out, isolated, or simply searching for a grounding force. By facilitating genuine, active connections between people, wildlife, and the outdoors, we want to offer the same lifeline that I found at the end of my hardest weeks.
Bond University - CriaTrek Presentation
As the heavy fog began to lift, I found myself truly eager to re-engage with the world. After stepping away for two years, I re-enrolled in my college studies, but this time, I allowed my newfound lifeline to dictate my direction. I completely shifted my academic focus toward animal husbandry and wildlife care. I started working at the local Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, beginning in the gardens and eventually stepping up to become a facilities attendant. Suddenly, I was the one teaching our community and local kids about the nature right in our own backyard. Every single day was a deep dive into wildlife, camelid care, and the delicate art of raising Coturnix quail. Through that hands-on work, and after a season of setbacks, major life pivots, and unsuccessful ventures, I finally began to rebuild my confidence. I was experiencing firsthand the undeniable, restorative power of the natural world.
But there was still a dream pulling at me, one I had held onto since I was a little girl: Australia. I had always been captivated by the country's spectacular wildlife habitats and deeply admired how its culture seemed intrinsically tied to the land. Acting on that lifelong pull, I booked my tickets for a study abroad program at Bond University.
That decision led to the best year of my life. I immersed myself in the landscapes of Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast; explored Melbourne and Sydney; and spent my free time routinely volunteering at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Australia Zoo. Being surrounded by that level of dedicated wildlife conservation was a spectacular, life-altering experience—one I will cherish forever and return to time and time again.
It was during those transformative months at Bond University that the true vision for CriaTrek came to life.
I began studying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically their initiatives surrounding global mental health. The mission resonated with what I already knew in my bones. Having navigated the isolating trenches of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and a grueling battle with anorexia nervosa, I intimately understood the very real mental health crisis facing both young people and older generations today. We are living in a society suffocated by technology. We are constantly sold the illusion that our time is better spent indoors, illuminated by the artificial glow of computer screens and phones, rather than out in the vibrant, unstructured wild.
CriaTrek was born to shatter that illusion. It is a company designed to connect kids, adults, and everyone in between with nature-based activities that actively promote mental and physical well-being. My goal is to push people outside to explore and engage with the environment in deeply meaningful ways. This isn't just about going for a standard hike or setting up a tent; it’s about authentic, tactile engagement with animals and the natural ecosystems we belong to. I want to teach people about wildlife in ways that heal us, proving that the greatest medicine for our modern, screen-fatigued minds is waiting right outside our front doors.
Want to keep up with my daily shenanigans? The adventure doesn’t stop here on the blog! Come hang out with me on Instagram at @alexa.janoschka. I share daily stories capturing my everyday life—from hunting down the perfect extra-shot flat white and hanging with my favorite camelids, to behind-the-scenes lighting production and whatever new outdoor side quest I am currently tackling. Plus, I drop fortnightly grid posts to wrap up all the fun. Come say hi and follow along!
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