The Journey Behind the Dream: Discovering the Castillo Legacy
By Iliana Yanez
In recent years, many people worldwide have gained a greater appreciation for nature than in years past, especially individuals who sought refuge in it during COVID-19. This holds true for San Antonio’s Castillo family; particularly their daughter Journey. Despite being a toddler, Journey has attracted widespread attention for what appears to be an extraordinary feat: becoming the youngest person to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks by the tender age of three. Yet, before Journey could even attain such an achievement, her parents Valerie and Eric embarked on their own unique paths that ultimately led them to their daughter. Scene In SA took the opportunity to chat with them and gain insights into their experiences.
The Castillo Family
Eric and Valerie’s Journeys to Parenthood
As for Eric, his story starts back in 2001 at Marshall High School in San Antonio, surrounded by sports (notable thanks to his father’s dual role as a coach and administrator). However, as high school concluded, a defined goal slipped through his fingers, leading him down a path marred by excessive drinking and substance abuse. “I kind of felt like I lost direction. I mean, it was a different time,” he explained.
Recognizing the challenges of this period, he would go on to have sons, Eric and Ethan, now 16 and 15, while still struggling with drugs and alcohol. “I had them in the midst of this; I was just so bad with the drugs and alcohol that I didn’t get to experience their upbringing, from when they were born—where they took their first steps, to even their first four years of their lives.” he stated. “It’s why I’m so passionate to give Journey everything I can.”
Every aspect of his life crumbled. Moments of desperation led him to bottles of alcohol, seeking solace in substances just to numb the pain. A breaking point arrived when he put his hand through a double-paned window, cutting it to the bone. In the face of this near-death experience, he received disheartening news from the doctor, stating that he might never be able to properly use his hand again. Yet, this setback became the catalyst for a transformative journey.
With a resolve to defy the odds, Eric embraced a rigorous training routine, steering clear of the distractions of his past. Eric recounts cutting off his friends, getting a gym membership, and exercising daily, using his parent’s car to get himself to the gym when he didn’t have a vehicle. As his physical prowess gradually returned, the realization dawned on him that he could conquer challenges he once thought insurmountable. The newfound inspiration propelled him to pursue a career as a personal trainer. His success as a trainer fueled his hunger, urging him to seek broader horizons beyond training. “At a certain point of training people, it just felt like I hit a dead end and I wanted more from myself. And physically, I had more to give.”
Chasing his football aspirations, Eric discovered meaning in dedication to structure and discipline, backed by his supportive father. Despite facing initial setbacks—including an injury during football combines and the realization that the journey to university-level football involved a detour through community college—Eric remained steadfast. An unplanned connection on Facebook with Ed Garza, the former mayor of San Antonio, altered the course of his path forever. Eric recalls that his support to go to college was pivotal. “I got denied from UIW [University of the Incarnate Word], and they didn’t accept me. He said, ‘Let me see if I can help; I know the president personally.’ I resubmitted my application, did an appeal on it, and the next day I got a call saying that I was accepted.”
Shortly thereafter, Eric found himself in the JV locker room, armed with an old pair of shorts, a training shirt, and a detailed schedule. He embarked on the challenging journey to prove himself as a walk-on—showing up daily and donning various jersey numbers during practice, ever ready for the physical demands. Eric describes, “When it got to the days we were practicing in pads, I would wear number 75 or 80. My jersey number always changed, so I was a dummy – I was just used for hitting. It was the best experience because I was out there, living my dream already. In their eyes, they were like, ‘Dude, you’re at the bottom, a catfish.’ But in my eyes, I’m like a shark.”
In 2013, after two and a half years of effort, he successfully earned his place on the roster during the last football season of his college tenure. Eric transformed from an unknown figure to a respected teammate. As an older presence on the team, his camaraderie with the players deepened as they learned about his journey. Eric reminisced, “I was with them every day for 2 years, so they started figuring out who I am. They began respecting me because they would see me out there, working and working out. While I didn’t know much about football initially and learned it from them, they in turn gained insights into life from me.” It was a stark contrast that emerged as he found himself bringing his sons to a stadium, ushering them into the sanctity of a locker room.
Valerie’s story begins in 2010 as Google began to gain prominence as the king of search engines. During this period, Valerie assumed the role of Sales Director for AT&T Advertising. Her primary focus was selling Google Ads through AT&T, aiming to outperform their competitor, Yellow Pages. “I had to learn it, I had to figure it out. I had to not only push a team to sell it when nobody believed in it, but I also had to learn how to create campaigns, websites, and all of that stuff that was emerging at that point. I became really good at it.” She describes how the spark of moving up the corporate ladder began fading. “I watched a bunch of businesses grow. I helped a lot of businesses grow, and I knew how to run a business because of my background in the advertising side. I didn’t know how to physically do the stuff that you need skills for.”
In 2016, Valerie met her now-husband Eric, who had recently concluded his football career at UIW. Subsequently, the pair embarked on starting a landscaping business, Dream Outdoor Services. Despite the initial lack of equipment, their innovative marketing strategies brought in calls, leading to newfound challenges of learning how to manage a business. With perseverance, they attended conferences and obtained arborist certifications, transforming their struggling startup into a thriving business.
Adding to their success, Valerie discovered she was pregnant—a dream come true for the couple. However, this joyous news came with trepidation during the early days of the pandemic and scares involving their growing baby’s health. “We were just praying, hoping that she survived. On Monday, we went to the doctor, and they hooked me up to the monitors. They said she’s got a stronger heartbeat than normal, so she survived, and she’s actually a fighter. So we thought, ‘Wow, you know, that’s what we’ve prayed for.’ ” This pivotal moment deepened the Castillos’ commitment. With a determination to instill resilience in their daughter, they found inspiration in the enduring spirit of their ancestors who prospered in challenging circumstances. Upon leaving the hospital, the couple approached parenthood with gratitude, ensuring their daughter would navigate and thrive in a world constantly in flux.
The Birth of Journey’s Adventure Through America’s National Parks
After spending just two days in the hospital following her birth, the couple couldn’t wait to introduce their newborn daughter, Journey Castillo, to the world—quite literally. Eager to escape the confines of quarantine and isolation, they decided on a special destination: Pike’s Peak in Colorado. “She opened her eyes for the first time, looking at the trees, and we just thought, ‘This is such a great thing for her. This is actually calming us down too.’” she explained. The experience was so enriching that they decided to explore even more. The Grand Canyon became their next destination, and by this point, Journey was a mere two weeks old.
Arriving at the Grand Canyon with baby Journey, Valerie and Eric noticed a “National Park” sign, prompting them to ask themselves what exactly a national park was. Being from San Antonio, which has none, they turned to Google and discovered there were 63 of these incredible natural wonders waiting for adventure. It logically followed that, if the Canyon held such a majestic presence, they needed to see more. They set their sights on Sequoia next, home to the world’s largest trees—fueling their fascination with the diverse tree species and ecology of the giants and leading them to Kings Canyon National Park. “I started joking around and said, ‘Let’s go to 21 by age one and 42 by age two.’ Because I’m goal-oriented and accustomed to it in my work, I suggested, ‘Let’s aim for 63 by age three.’ Little did we know how challenging that would turn out to be,” Valerie remarked.
Embarking on this journey with their daughter was something that they never anticipated, clueless about the challenges it would bring. By the time Journey was about ten months old, they visited around 17 parks. Witnessing her take her first steps amidst breathtaking landscapes sparked an idea – sharing their story. They reached out to local reporters, aiming to shed light on these incredible places and highlight the absence of this cultural appreciation in San Antonio. An interview with Marvin Hurst from KENS5’s Kids Make SA Great segment catapulted them into the public eye. Even more media attention followed, propelling them to achieve the first target Valerie set.
Scene in SA spoke with Valerie Castillo, right
As they progressed, reaching the second target became more demanding. Valerie decided to leave her job, fully committing to accomplishing Journey’s goal. Without any sponsors or external support, they financed their travels by selling the equipment from their tree business. To attain the goal of visiting all 63 parks, they traversed challenging terrains, journeying from Hawaii to Alaska and American Samoa and enduring numerous flights and lengthy drives. Despite the difficulties, they persisted and successfully achieved their ambitious objective.
Journey’s third birthday was more than just a milestone—it was the victorious finale of their quest to explore all 63 parks. In an unexpected twist, their achievement etched her into a record-breaking narrative when someone highlighted Journey as the youngest to accomplish this objective. The Smithsonian validated this achievement, prompting the family to recognize the urgent need to speak up for the parks, witnessing the impact of climate change on these natural wonders.
“We went to Yosemite, and there was this big majestic waterfall. We have a video of her in front of it, and she’s laughing. It’s amazing because this waterfall speaks to your spirit. We took her again about six months later, and that waterfall was so dried up. That’s when it became emotional for me. I realized that there is a bigger purpose to this goal, which is to speak up for her generation because I feel that we can’t make a difference; we’ve tried.” Valerie recalled. This realization added a profound purpose to their journey – to advocate for Journey’s generation and future leaders in the face of climate change, land preservation, and conservation challenges.
Recognizing this type of power in early exposure, they viewed their endeavor as an investment in Journey’s future. Valerie states, “The next step from this is going to be to continue to build that passion for her. . . There is a formula for fixing the problems that are happening in the world, and you have to build them from the ground up. That’s the reason why we’re doing this with her.” She continued to draw parallels to how sports legends like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan were nurtured by their parents. They see the parks as their chosen arena, with Journey as the budding champion. Especially in a world where challenges are amplified for female leaders, they remain resolute in fostering her capabilities. Their investment in Journey extends beyond personal growth; it’s a commitment to the future of the world. Their focus now is on building her strength, acknowledging the broader purpose of their actions beyond individual struggles, and urging everyone to consider a bigger picture and purpose in their daily lives.
The Castillos have unearthed a profound truth in their journeys and the exploration of the national parks. Valerie mentioned that every park had its story: the reason why people protected it, why they fought for it, and why it continues to stand. These narratives, marked by goals larger than life, highlight the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone. As Eric wisely notes, the universal truth is that everyone grapples with challenges, but finding joy and appreciation in the present moment is equally crucial. In the journey of the Castillos, the call to explore national parks was not just an adventure, but a testament to the resilience born from sacrifice, faith, and the courage to trust oneself. ■
