The last few projects I worked on here have been truly
inspiring to be a part of, such as our volunteer project at the Entiat National
Fish Hatchery. We were able to coordinate a service project with 16 of our
incredible volunteers to go out to the hatchery and help with some trail
maintenance on over 4.5 acres over the course of the day. I was so impressed by
the positive attitudes and work ethic that every single one of our volunteers
had. We were able to get so much more done than I could have hoped for. By the
end of the day we were all exhausted and as I walked the trail making sure we
had all the materials and that everyone was starting to head back, there were
two volunteers that asked if they could stay just a bit longer so that they
could get around to the next corner. Now this has taken place after hours of
hard work, trimming, weeding, pulling snags, and raking. I did not anticipate
having volunteers asking to stay longer and it caught me off guard for a
moment, and then I had a sense of pride over how hard and how much they cared
about what they were really doing. So, we all grabbed some rakes, pruners and
threw our gloves on to help them to finish that last bit. I could not be more
proud of the teams of volunteers I have worked with this year.
Working with selfless people who
care about their environment and their communities is so rewarding, and it was
a great way to close out my service. Out volunteers are vital to so many of our
programs success, and throughout this year I have been impressed by the
selfless people who donate their time, knowledge, and skills to our programs
whether it is our Native Plant Sale, after school extended learning, Kids in
the Creek, or any other various volunteer projects. There is a true sense of
community that I have found when I am working with our volunteers and it is
inspiring to see that many people take time from their busy days to help out
their communities and their environment.
Joining Americorps and moving out
to Washington State to serve with Cascadia Conservation has been a true life
changing experience. I have been a part of so many amazing programs throughout
the year and have learned a great deal about conservation, natural resource
management, teaching, non-profits and so much more. This year has not been
easy, but it has been worth every minute. I have encountered so many new
challenges that have prepared me for my next step as I move on with my career
in the conservation world with Sauk County back in Wisconsin as a Conservation
Coordinator this August. I will be missing Washington and my Cascadia team
deeply as I move back, but I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter,
and I know that Americorps has given me a strong foundation and invaluable
experience in which I will continue to pursue conservation and education.
