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Impact Story: Ben Holt – Conservation Legacy

The Corps Network is collecting short stories from Corps about their projects and the Corpsmembers that put them into action. Read our “Impact Stories” collection for a picture of the people and hard work behind the Corps movement.

In addition to crew-based programs, many Corps work with state and federal resource management agencies to offer internship and individual placement opportunities. These service positions give young adults leadership experience and the chance to more deeply explore career opportunities.

This story features Ben Holt, an Environmental Education Distance Learning Intern with Conservation Legacy. This internship was part of the Stewards Individual Placement Program (SIPP) which places AmeriCorps and VISTA Members in communities across America for a year of volunteer service by facilitating partnerships between federal agencies and community-based nonprofit groups. Ben served from May 2021 through November 2021 in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Ben served as a member of Rocky Mountain National Park’s education and outreach team throughout his service term. This included supporting distance learning opportunities for pre-K-6th grade students, leading field trips for local school groups, host Junior Ranger programs, develop and lead “pop-up” programs, and update curriculum for programs to align with state standards. Through all these programs, Ben enhanced the national park experience for more than 1900 people.

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high visitation in Rocky Mountain National Park, Ben’s impact extends beyond the number of people. Ben used creative tools to reach the community in the area through site-visits to schools and virtual field trips. These educational efforts connect with new audiences, especially school-aged children, with Rocky Mountain National Park remotely making a learning experience accessible to students who may never be able to visit the park in-person. This is underscored by the fact that over 1000 individuals Ben reached through his program came from underrepresented communities. Additionally, the “pop-up” programs Ben developed allowed visitors to the park to participate in interactive programming, despite not being able to host traditional Park Ranger-led events during the pandemic

Furthermore, Ben’s impact continues even after his service through the curriculum updates, new programming, and at-home activities he completed. The curriculum updates will ensure programming meets the need of local second-grade classrooms, as school trips ramp up after the pandemic. The new programming will be utilized to educate visitors about ecosystems, wildlife, and mapping into the future. The science activities continue to provide opportunities for students to learn about geology and climate science in Rocky Mountain National Park from their own homes or schools.

Ben’s service to Rocky Mountain National Park was noticed by his site supervisor. “He is hands-down the best intern I have ever worked with.”

With this success, he was able to continue to work with Rocky Mountain National Park through the winter and hopes to transition into a staff position on the education team over the summer.

Corps Story: SCA’s Historic Preservation in Public Lands Program

During the month of May, The Corps Network is highlighting historic preservation programs at Corps. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) runs a Historic Preservation in Public Lands Program with AmeriCorps and Massachusetts Service Alliance in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Boston National Historic Park. The program teaches Corpsmembers leadership skills while training them in historic preservation trades skills.

Program Background

SCA started the Historic Preservation in Public Lands Program with the goal of, “Preserving historic places across Massachusetts, introducing young people to the field of historic trades, and highlighting the effects of a warming planet on the built environment.” Launched in 2017, the program ran a residential 12-member crew, but recently switched to its current commuter model in which they recruit locally and offer a higher living allowance. Corpsmembers are AmeriCorps members and many have a background in history.

The program has a 100% retention rate of their Corpsmembers who serve a 10-month service term. So far, the program has worked on projects in The Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument, the Boston Harbor Islands, and other historically significant places, including an ongoing project restoring windows in the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. A relatively new program, SCA’s goal is to continue this work and expand into more long-term projects.

“SCA hopes to work on bigger projects that will sustain our calendar for a few years at a time,” said Janina Peppers, the Project Manager. She hopes expanding the program will allow Corpsmembers to help improve more historic structures and sites, giving members a variety of unique skills and experiences that they can bring to their next position.

Program Duties

A day on the program begins around 7:30 a.m. Corpsmembers arrive at either SCA’s two-story workshop in Braintree, MA, or the shipyard where they get on a boat, head off to the islands, and pick up where they left off the day before. In the shop, crews review their cut lists, turn on table saws and begin working.

In the upstairs of SCA’s shop, Corpsmembers work on window restoration for the on-going U.S.S. Constitution Museum and other projects. Built in the late 1800s, the museum has 122 windows in need of restoration. Each window takes time and careful work to restore; SCA’s program restores an average of 15 windows per year from the U.S.S. Constitution Museum and around 60 per year from their other project sites.

When beginning a new window, Corpsmembers go to the site, take the window out, and cover the opening with plywood or a storm window to ensure the correct lighting. Next, Corpsmembers bring the windows back to the shop where they remove lead paint. All members are lead-safe certified. After paint removal, they begin the process of assessing damage. Repairs involve filling holes and fitting new pieces to old pieces in what’s called a “Dutchman repair.” They then replace the glass and treat the window to a “glazing process” to smooth it out, before painting and reinstalling the window into the museum.

The first-floor crew is currently building life jacket boxes to make a historic ship accessible to visitors. On the islands, crews work on restoring a 110-year-old building through brick repointing. Peppers says the goal is to, “make spaces a bit more accessible, a bit safer. You can’t go into a building that has a rotted floor…which then offers more opportunities for learning and growing.”

Corpsmembers

Though SCA does not require a college degree to join, Peppers notes that most Corpsmembers that join SCA’s Historic Preservation program have a degree in history or historic preservation and are generally between the ages of 21 and 27. Many members are looking for experience in historic trades and find the paid training opportunity a great segue into the historic preservation field. The niche nature of historic preservation allows for many members to land profitable careers in the field after completion of the program.

Corpsmembers have a five-week training period where they earn certifications in Lead Safe Renovator, Wilderness First Aid, Chainsaw Use and Safety, Carpentry 101, Window Restoration, Historic Landscaping, and more. SCA provides Corpsmembers with professional development including resume building, interviewing skills, and a USAjobs workshop. Peppers believes Corpsmembers also gain skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork throughout their term. At the end of the year, the program hosts a historic preservation career fair with employers that talk about job openings in the field.

Alumni have gone on to work as museum guides, preservation craftspeople, masonry specialists, park rangers, and more. Alums can be found across the country in places like Great Smokey Mountains National Park, California State Railroad Museum, and Preserve Rhode Island.

Impact

In addition to making history more accessible for all, Peppers says that historic preservation helps to make our country more resilient in ways people don’t always consider.

“I think that what we do is very directly preserving our built environment. We can’t as humans remain here without structures and things we’ve built,” she said. “Our work in historic preservation all over the country and all over the world, keeps the buildings around so they don’t get demolished and sent to the land fill and make a need for new buildings using more materials. There’s a quote by an architect that the greenest building is the one that is already standing, so that is the quote that I use.”

SCA’s Historic Preservation in Public Lands program is one of the few historic preservation programs in the Corps community. Pepper’s notes that it is an exciting place to be, with lots of networking opportunities and areas for growth. As the importance of historic preservation becomes more recognized, SCA hopes to continue expanding their program and introduce historic preservation into additional organizations across the Corps community.

The Corps Network Receives Funding from William Penn Foundation to Help

Impact Story: Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps Forest Health Crew

The Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps (MCCC) is a national service program operated through the Parks and Recreation Division of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources. The program provides Michigan residents ages 18 – 27 the chance to gain hands-on experience in ecological restoration, forest health, horticulture or sign manufacturing. MCCC members have the opportunity to earn an AmeriCorps Education Award through The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program.

One MCCC program is the Forest Health Crew, which engages AmeriCorps members in planting and maintaining native trees, monitoring tree health, and addressing pests and diseases. Learn about some of their work below.

Crewmembers Zach Ostoin, Jacob de Boer, Noelani Belton and Autumn Fedorowicz inspecting EAB insect traps.

Forest Pest Training

Waterloo Recreation Area (Chelsea, MI)

At the beginning of summer 2021, MCCC Forest Health Crew members attended an outdoor, hands-on emerald ash borer (EAB) training at Waterloo Recreation Area. Crew members received specialized instruction in locating EAB-resistant trees and collecting hemlock seed to aid in the U.S. Forest Service’s hemlock protection efforts. As part of the training, the members surveyed for symptoms of invasive forest pests across this 11,000-acre park.

AmeriCorps member Dax Cilley watering a newly planted tree. AmeriCorps member Megan Leach learning arboricultural practices.

Forest Restoration Tree Planting

Belle Isle Park (Detroit, MI)

In late summer 2021, MCCC Forest Health members helped plant 55 native, locally-sourced trees across an area that experienced losses from emerald ash borer, oak wilt, and Dutch elm disease. Crew members learned about proper planting techniques and how to care for newly planted trees. Crew members also had the opportunity to learn arboriculture practices, such as tree climbing.

AmeriCorps member Travis Wilcox (left) exposes a fungal pressure pad on an infected oak tree. Evan Hunt (right) takes an oak wilt delimitation measurement at Waterloo Recreation Area in August 2021.

Oak Protection: Forest Health Survey for Invasive Oak Wilt

State-wide

MCCC Forest Health Crew members are part of the front-line protection and management of forest health in sensitive landscapes across Michigan State Parks. Crew members learn to identify symptoms of oak wilt, collect samples, and verify lab samples. Members help survey expansive landscapes.

Crew members, including Travis Wilcox and Megan Leach (left), are trained in pest identification and safe use of pesticides. Crew member Travis Wilcox (right) records datapoints about a small stand of hemlock at Silver Lake State Park.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment

Michigan’s Golden Coast

MCCC Forest Health Crew members are part of an important statewide effort to eradicate invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect that feeds on sap from trees. Surveys and treatment occurs in Michigan State Parks in priority locations along Lake Michigan. During the summer months, AmeriCorps members are hard at work treating infected trees and protecting non-infected trees. During winter months, the crew spends most of their time mapping hemlock stands and surveying and mapping infected trees.

Impact Story: Alli Riebel – Utah Conservation Corps

“Working with conservation corps has helped me to become the absolute best version of myself.”

This story was adapted from Heal the Planet, Heal the Self: One Conservationist’s Journey — a profile by David Mallery, originally published by Utah State TODAY, April 5, 2022. Read the full, original article here.

Alli Riebel has served several terms with various Conservation Corps and is currently a field logistics technician with Utah Conservation Corps. Through her service terms Alli has developed conservation skills, led groups of new Corpsmembers, and served as an inspiration for those seeking to join Corps. But it wasn’t always this way for Alli.

Before joining the Corps movement, Alli struggled with her mental health and was in search of a path that would help her forward. Encouraged by an interest in the outdoors and a friend who’d served as a Corpsmember, Alli applied to a one-month term with Minnesota Youth Corps. Initially, Alli says she struggled to gain her footing. She faced challenges in the immersive Corps environment that pushed her out of her comfort zone and eventually, helped her to thrive.

After her term ended, Alli attended trade school where she became an auto technician but realized her true passion lay in conservation. She applied to Wisconsin’s WisCorps where she learned about invasive species removal, tree planting, and more, before becoming an assistant Crew Leader with the Corps.

Alli says, “I realized that I was free to travel the country, meet new people, and face whatever challenges that nature and human nature might throw my way.”

Alli’s next step was with Utah Conservation Corps. She served as a Crew Leader where she was able to lead groups of new Corpsmembers and share her passion for conservation. Today, Alli serves with Utah Conservation Corps as a field logistics technician. She manages crews, supports project management, and makes sure equipment and vehicles are working properly.

Alli hopes to continue working in the field of conservation. Her path serves as an example of a successful trajectory for young people seeking a career in conservation, and her story shows the transformative effect Corps have on the lives of young people.

Read this article from Utah State Today to learn more about Alli’s story.

Alumni Story: Shawnee Sloat-Warren

Corpsmembers often continue to serve in additional Corps programs once their original term is over. This allows them to live in new areas or continue to develop their skills in conservation and environmental work. After serving with American Youthworks, in Texas and Louisiana and getting to experience projects on various national forests and wildlife refuges, AmeriCorps Alumna Shawnee Sloat-Warren went from a career path in the medical field to conservation. We asked about her journey and where her Corpsmember experience led her.

How long did you serve with Louisiana Conservation Corps? How did you first hear about the program?

I have served for 13-14 months as a crew lead for two crews: field crew and GulfCorps. I heard about Louisiana Conservation Corps (LaCC) through serving as a crew member in Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC). I wanted to continue working in the conservation world and have a chance to live in Louisiana. It was a win-win situation.

Can you tell us a bit about your background? What were you doing prior to the program and what made you want to join?

Before I joined conservation work, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the medical field. I worked in nursing homes, home health care, hospice, ER, and the liver kidney transplant unit. I wanted to join after having a talk with an ER friend who said that he worked on trails when he was younger and that was his favorite job yet. I was down in the dumps trying to figure out: if I leave the medical field what would I do? I looked into conservation jobs. I applied for the position in Texas and it was the best decision I have ever made.

What projects did you work on while there?

For Louisiana Conservation Corps, we worked on a couple prairie restorations in the Kisatchie National Forest. We’d cut down small trees, like sweet gum and pines, and applied herbicide to the tree stubs. We also did a pitcher plant bog restoration in Kisatchie Forest as well. We’d also cut down trees and shrubs to help make room for the pitcher plants.

For GulfCorps, the projects we helped in were rebuilding a boardwalk in the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge [along the] Pintail Drive. We also rebuilt boardwalks and a fishing dock in Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. We planted 21 live oak trees in the Hollister Cheniere Preserve.

Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana

What were some of your favorite parts about this program? What were some of the challenges?

My favorite parts are being able to work in nature, seeing the animals, and connecting with the work in a way that is so different from anything else. The best part is getting away from the city and the people. I guess some of the challenges can be the crew not getting along or having off days, like craving a certain meal and it is too far away to get the kind of food you want.

What training, resources, and support were you provided through this program?

Wilderness first aid, chainsaw training, and herbicide use. I missed out on the Red Card training, but that is an opportunity as well.

As far as resources and support, the office staff at LaCC is phenomenal, along with TxCC. Those people are willing to try and help in any way they can. As well as the people who you connect with in the field: the forest staff, state park people, and National Wildlife Refuge folks – if you have a question or an idea of where you want go, they will give you the resources or guidance on how to get there. You just have to speak up.

What skills (soft skills, certifications, etc.)did you take from this program?

Chainsaw S212, chainsaw maintenance, tool maintenance, the knowledge of how trails work, and how water erosion happens then the prevention.
Soft skills: critical thinking whether with chainsaw, trail work, or crew dynamic.
Leadership/teamwork
Problem solving
Work ethic
Paperwork
Handling of conflicting personalities

What was your favorite experience during the program?

Honestly, as cheesy as it sounds, it is getting to work outside in nature. Being able to have lunches under the trees, seeing the animals and the nature views that no one gets to see often, and connecting with your co-workers in a way that creates life-long bonds. Just forgetting who society tells you to be and finding yourself, your passion, your drive, just what makes you…well, you.

A Corpsmember from Louisiana Conservation Corps completing forestry work

What were your original goals for after the program and what resources did the program provide to help you get there?

I want to be a Wildland Firefighter and a Forestry Technician. The job allowed me to network with the right people and apply for and get the job.

What type of work do you do now and how did your Corpsmember experience help you get there?

I work at the Dallas Zoo as a Lead Technician of horticulture. All of my Corpsmember experience has led me here. From the trail work, chain sawing, tool maintenance, tree identification, land restoration. Literally everything that I have done and allowed myself to try has led me into the position I am now.

Why is it important for young people to be involved in this type of work?

I think it is important that young people get involved in conservation work because they can learn how to work, it gets them to push their own boundaries, and opens doors to a different world that they probably didn’t know existed! You also get an [AmeriCorps] education award, which is awesome and useful for when you need it.

What would you say to others who are considering their next steps or a program like this? Do you have any advice?

My advice would be, do it. Take that chance, take that leap of faith, and try something that is totally out of your comfort zone. If you are open minded and willing to allow others to help and guide you in this type of field, the opportunities are endless.

When I started this path, I didn’t expect to stay in it for four years. I didn’t think I would make the friends I did. I got to make amazing memories and have awesome experiences that led me where I am today.

Impact Stories: Sebastian Castillo

What led you to join a Corps Program?

Unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic. The experience offered at Civicorps was along the lines of my college major.

Are you an AmeriCorps Member?

Yes – I’m part of The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program.

How do you plan to use your education award?

College tuition.

What certifications/ training did you earn?

Chainsaw/Sawyer Certification, Chipper, First Aid/AED/CPR, Forklift Certifications.

Tell us about a Project of Accomplishment from your Service Term:

I supported habitat restoration projects throughout San Francisco Bay area (East Bay), including helping Snowy Plovers and Monarch Butterflies. I also helped build shelters for the unhoused community.

What is your favorite memory from your Corps experience?

The best were the memories made with fellow Corpsmembers and getting People of Color outdoors enjoying nature.

What do you think is the biggest impact you will take away from your experience?

The experience gained in terms of field work and leading group projects.

What do you plan to do after your Corps experience?

I plan on getting more experience in field work.

Any advice for people looking to join a Corps?

Jump with both feet forward and don’t be afraid to take advantage of your resources.

Alumni Stories: Ronald Henderson

As we enter a new year, The Corps Network has asked Corps alumni to reflect on their Corps experiences. We want to know how they were impacted by their service term and how their Corps helped lead them to where they are now. Ronald Henderson is a GulfCorps alumnus of Franklin’s Promise Coalition and the Student Conservation Association. He began his Corps journey five years ago and is currently working for The Nature Conservancy Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve.

What led you to initially join a Corps?

I joined the Corps in 2017. Pretty much everyone who was on the original crew of Franklin’s Promise, I played football with. So, I pretty much knew everybody that was working there. I just so happened to lose my job at a chocolate shop, and I remembered seeing Franklin’s Promise, so I applied to it, because I was tired of working in a restaurant, and that’s how I got started, and here I am five years later.

What were you doing before you joined Franklin’s Promise?

I was working at a chocolate shop, I worked at a pizza shop, and I worked at Burger King leading up to that job. I decided to leave the restaurant business. Conservation originally wasn’t the main pull. Originally, I was looking at Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Walking in I thought, maybe I’ll do FWC, maybe I’ll do prescribed burns.

What were your projects at Franklin’s Promise?

The regular Franklin Crew did a lot of slash-pile-removal, sandpile removal, we worked on boardwalks a lot. We did some work in the Air Force base doing conservation work. At Franklin’s Promise we had a food drive, we had Toys-for-Tots there, so we helped with all that. Whenever there was a hurricane, we handed out sandbags. We also had an emergency relief program emergency relief program. Whenever disasters happened, they would call on us and we would hand out sandbags, food, water, and stuff like that.

My time at the Bay Crew (a GulfCorps Crew working with Franklin’s Promise) for a good five months was strictly experimental. When I started, it was just starting so we had to hire everybody and once we got everybody on board, we got them all certified. Originally, we were going to be working in Econfina River State Park doing work out there, but I never got to because I got my first fire crew job right at the beginning of 2020, so I left, but we did a few things. We did some sand pond removal. We were cutting fire lines. Pretty much the Franklin Crew and the Bay Crew were working together on projects.

How did you go from Franklin’s Promise to Student Conservation Association (SCA)?

I applied, I did the interview, got the job, and met four of my best friends – I’m still friends with everybody. The fire crew still meets up regularly. I was with the fire crew for about five months. Then we got shut down because of COVID-19.

What was your experience like as part of the SCA Fire Crew?

I think that being on that fire crew taught me a lot about myself. That was right around the corner of my son being born. My son was born in July 2020, but the fire crew ended in April. I got a job that same month, but the experience was nice.

I turned 21 as soon as the crew started. I knew two people from the crew. I learned a lot. I saw a lot of pretty places. Working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Alabama really looked good on my resume, as well. I did a lot of prescribed burns.

We did pitcher plant habitat restoration that is so sacred. They’re so endangered and rare that you can’t even pull out a phone because you don’t want anyone knowing where they are because they are some of the rarest pitcher plants.

What were some of the highlights of your SCA experience?

There was this crazy 1,000-acre burn near Flag Mountain. We burned at this sacred Native American land and each crew got 200 acres to burn. I remember my crew got an extra 100 acres to do and it was awesome. I was tired, but it was awesome.

I think my favorite part of the whole thing was just camping everywhere we burned at. A prescribed burn takes more than eight hours. Depends on how many acres it is and how complex the burn is but usually 8-13 hours.

We stayed on a wildlife management area, as well, and so the hunters that came in, sometimes they would have extra meat that they wouldn’t want because they were hunting for sport, so they would give us a deer or a hog or a racoon or a beaver to skin and they just let us keep the whole thing.

On our days off we would drink beer and skin animals. We wouldn’t eat out often because our leader had a full cooler of all these wild animals. We would make our lunch for the week out of these animals. We had wild leeks growing around our house, so we picked and pickled them.

What certifications did you achieve throughout your time with Corps?

Wildland Fire Certifications, Wildland Fire Certification, Aquatic Grasses Certification, OSHA, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

How did your experiences lead you to where you are now?

The company I worked for after SCA is called Long Leaf Alliance, which branched off The Nature Conservancy Florida (TNC) about 12 years ago. I was doing biology work for the reticulate of the Flywood Salamander. It was technically a seasonal job. The first season was more like field work. We would go in and clear out the ponds for the salamander. The second season I worked there we did more biology work, like finding [salamanders] and counting them and counting the legs, how long their bodies are and putting them back. Or we would take some dye and inject it into the tail of the salamander so we could tell if we’d already caught them or not as they got bigger. That was when I really got into snakes. You could say I became a herpetologist through that.

I was with Long Leaf Alliance for a year and a half and now I am with TNC. What helped me get this job was being friends with all the partners I met with through GulfCorps. GulfCorps really helped me network. I am still friends with every higher-up that I met from GulfCorps. I already knew the hiring supervisor from when I worked at GulfCorps—and my Crew Leader, Brad, I burned with him, probably a few months before I even got this job. And the person that recommended this job, I burnt with him a bunch of times, so I pretty much knew everybody when I got here.

What do you do in your current position?

We do native seed collection for water grass, we do native seed planting, we do prescribe burns and we do efforts to reintroduce the Indigo Snake into the population. We release a certain number of snakes a year. Basically, it is a land management job. I help manage Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve. I do tractor work, pretty much anything you can think of chainsaw work, planting, collecting seeds, herbicide…

What advice would you give people considering joining a Corps?

Network, network, network. It is one of the most important things you can get from GulfCorps. Network, and get all the certifications that you can. You never know, somewhere down the road they might be handy.

Individual Placement Story: Claire Hassler

Over the years, several member organizations of The Corps Network have worked under our agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to recruit participants for the USFWS Directorate Fellowship Program. Once such member organization is the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC), based out of Southern Utah University. IIC places the fellows and helps keep track of their progress throughout their term. Claire Hassler is serving through the USFWS Directorate Fellowship Program in partnership with IIC. We spoke with her about her service experience.

Where are you currently based?

I am based in Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which is in Marble Falls, TX, and Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, which is in Eagle Lake. I’m employed through Southern Utah University and IIC. My internship started in April 2021 and goes through February 2022.

How did you first hear about the USFWS Southwest Intern Program?

I had never heard anything about it before. I had a mentor who suggested I look at The Corps Network’s website because I told her I wanted to be working outside and she suggested it. I was looking mainly at trail positions but saw this on the partner’s section. I stumbled upon it and decided to apply even though I didn’t know much about it at the time.

Can you tell us a bit about your background? What were you doing prior to the internship and what made you want to join?

I studied journalism in college, specifically multimedia journalism. I was working at the local paper doing primarily video and photography for them. But I always had an interest in science journalism and conservation and environmentalism, so I was hoping I could get more into that specifically. I spent a few months after graduating working as a staff photographer at a paper in Columbus, MS. When that internship ended, I was looking for the next thing and saw The Corps Network internship posting and immediately thought, “that’s exactly what I want to do” – so I applied.

Can you share more about where you’re currently serving and your responsibilities?

Every month I spend three weeks at Balcones and one week at Atwater, and I do similar things at both of them. Primarily, I go out on the refuges and I document with videos and photos. Sometimes that looks like photographing the nature and the scenery and other times it’s photographing staff in action or public events. That’s field time and I live for that. When I applied that’s what I was most excited to be doing, being outside. With every day in the field, there’s two days in the office. I go through all of that content and I edit it and make sure it’s organized so that at end of the internship I’ll be able to give them a big photo drive of edited and captioned photos.

I also write Facebook content for the Balcones and publish those, make sure they’re spread out, relevant and interpretive. I’ve also been putting together some videos. Some are quick Facebook style with subtitles to share work that’s going on at the refuge. The one I’ve been working on for a while is for the Balcones website and it’ll be a “Welcome to Balcones, this is who we are and what we do” for their homepage.

What are some of your favorite parts about this program? What are some of the challenges?

My favorite part of this experience and what I’ve gained from it is learning how to look more closely with a lens of curiosity, because everyone I talk to and everything I look at is so interesting. The people here are so knowledgeable and willing to share what they know. There are so many stories to tell that I know the public would be interested in if they heard about it. I’m excited to go on from here: wherever I end up, wherever I live, I’ll be able to learn about the natural space and share that with people through photo and video. Also, getting to be immersed in the nature and live on the refuge and be out in the field doing photography.

For challenges, it is a very creative, detail-oriented job, so it can be a lot to have to stay in that creative mindset for 30-40 hours a week. That’s been the greatest challenge: trying to be disciplined and channel that creativity on-demand. I’ve learned a lot about myself, so it’s been a positive experience.

What training and support are you provided through this program?

Not any formal training, but I took the Eppley Institute Interpretation course, which was really helpful and I’ve used it throughout. I pretty much had a solid background in video, photo, and writing. Any questions that I have about the refuge or biology or ecology there are plenty of people to answer my questions.

I meet with a mentor from the university and other interns in my cohort in other states virtually. Something that’s been huge has been having my mentor and my boss to guide me through the whole USA Jobs and applying for federal positions. It’s a whole different world and if I didn’t have help, I wouldn’t know what I’m doing at all. They review my resume and cover letters, told me about upcoming positions and what people are looking for. I don’t know where I’ll be after this internship yet, but I feel good about my applications because of all their help. The professional development aspect is really nice, as well.

What has been your favorite experience during the internship so far?

I got to go down in a cave as cavers were doing surveys of different species down there. The refuge biologist said I should go and take some videos. We got to climb down this skinny hole and get all muddy and see cave dwelling species with cool adaptations. It was unreal. I’ve never done anything like that before.

You mentioned wanting to continue in this type of work. What are your goals down the road?

I’ve loved working for the Fish and Wildlife Service. I think at both refuges the staff are amazing and I really believe in their mission. I would love to eventually become permanent, possibly as a visual information specialist or a park ranger in visitor services in USFWS or for the Park Service. I would love to continue this work and hopefully get to tie in as much photography and storytelling as I can. That’s my passion.

Why is it important for young people and your generation to be involved in this type of work?

The next generation is the future and eventually the entire workforce. I think it’s important for us to see how things are done and be able to ask questions and do that ourselves. I learn by observing others and modeling after the people who mentor me. This has been a great introduction to that and I have a good understanding of USFWS and what my role could be with them in the future. Every generation comes with a new way of thinking and doing things. Social media is the big thing now, but the next generation will also have a new set of skills and tools that comes naturally to them. It’s always important to bring the next generation and invite them to the table in a way that makes them feel valued and appreciated.

What would you say to others who are considering their next steps or a program like this? Do you have any advice?

Please do it and apply! I didn’t have any idea what I was applying for, but I knew that if you don’t apply, you’ll never know. So don’t be worried about your qualifications or previous experience because odds are you can learn on the job if you’re resourceful.

For a person who gets this type of internship, make a plan at the beginning of your internship and make a list of what projects you want to do because it’ll fly by.

Corps Recognized in 2021 Coalition for Recreational Trails Awards

Every year, the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) recognizes outstanding trail projects that make use of Recreational Trail Program (RTP) funds. Service and Conservation Corps across the country frequently partner with local, state and federal resource managers to build and maintain trails. In addition to contributing critical labor to a project, Corpsmembers have an opportunity to hone their trail-building skills and connect with professionals in the field.

Corps have often led or contributed to CRT Award-winning projects. Here are four projects from the 2021 CRT Achievement Awards that member organizations of The Corps Network helped make possible.

Statewide Fourteeners Maintenance – 2021 Maintenance and Rehabilitation
COLORADO

The Fourteeners Initiative hires Youth Corps and Crews to help maintain recreational trails that take hikers up to Colorado’s 14,000 ft peaks. This award recognizes the work done on over 14 miles of trails across 19 peaks. This project included contributions from organizations in the Colorado Youth Corps Association, including Southwest Conservation Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (Colorado), and Mile High Youth Corps.

Neahkahnie Mountain to Manzanita Trail – 2021 Maintenance and Rehabilitation
OREGON

The Neahkahnie Mountain to Manzanita Trail Project created a new segment of trail to the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT). The new trail segment connects the OCT trail to the town of Manzanita. Northwest Youth Corps played an important role in the trail’s construction.

Bridge Buttress Trail – Enhancement of Federal Lands
WEST VIRGINIA

The Bridge Buttress Trail Project is a partnership involving the Access Fund, New River Gorge National Park and the Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC). This effort focused on stabilizing a heavily trafficked climbing and trail access point. The ACC AmeriCorps members contributed to the nearly 1,400 hours of work to complete the project.

Waterloo Valley Trail Bridge – Engaging Public Sector Partners
NEW JERSEY

The Waterloo Valley Trail Bridge Project created a safer and more accessible trail in Allamuchy Mountain State Park. With the help of the New Jersey Youth Corps, an unsafe make-shift bridge was replaced with a 6-foot-wide, 60-foot-long bridge installed for hikers use.

To learn more about Corps partnerships with trail and transportation managers, please visit: https://corpsnetwork.org/our-impact/trails-and-transportation/