The chance to hunt the game laden plains of Africa is only a dream to the average hunter. Such a safari requires travel to a different hemisphere and is wildly expensive, financially out of reach for most. But to one TWU Local 556 member's surprise, she won just that, the hunt of her dreams.

Karen Carrolan, a Southwest flight attendant and hunting enthusiast, was working a return flight to her home base, Chicago, when a stranger asked her if she'd fill in for a hunting buddy of his who had unexpectedly canceled on him. Carrolan knew something unusual was going on when she noticed a camera pointed directly at her and the stranger. Then, over the aircraft's public address system a co-worker announced that Carrolan had just won a hunting trip to Africa and the plane full of people burst into applause.

That was when she found out the stranger next to her was actually Tom Ackerman, the host of Escape to the Wild. Escape is a television show that rewards union men and women with trips to fantastic hunting locations around the world and airs their excursions. The show often highlights participants' commitments to species conservation, one that is particularly strong in the community of union sportsmen and women. Union Sportsmen's Alliance (USA), the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), both affiliated with the AFL-CIO, support the show.

Carrolan started hunting several years ago with her oldest son and her boyfriend; mostly in central Illinois with an occasional trip to Minnesota. Carrolan lived in Africa for a brief period of time as a child when her father was working as a carpenter in Nigeria. But Carrolan's mother became very ill while they were there so they returned to the United States. Carrolan never dreamed she would have an opportunity to return to Africa.

Carrolan loves her job as a Southwest flight attendant, which she has performed for than nine years. She always keeps an eye out for the hunters on board. "I always chat with passengers, particularly those that look like they are going hunting," she said. "Anyone wearing camouflage clothes." Carrolan said that people think it's "cool" that a woman enjoys the outdoors and hunting wild animals.

Carrolan's hunting trip of a lifetime will be broadcast on January 24 at 8:30 p.m. on the Versus Country television network. Check with your cable company for the proper channel in your area. You can also go to the Versus website to find a clip of the show and other web exclusive materials after it airs.