Meet Nate Jensen, one of our incredible AmeriCorps interns working with the Willamette Resources and Educational Network (WREN) in the beautiful West Eugene Wetlands! Since May, Nate has jumped into environmental education headfirst, teaching K-12 students about local ecosystems, creating curriculum, and getting his hands dirty with fieldwork.
From guiding students through inquiry-based learning about pollinators and watersheds, to collaborating with BLM botanists to survey for endangered species like the Willamette Daisy, Nate’s experience has been both diverse and rewarding!
Here are his notes from the field:
Field Note Entry 1.0
Background
Since the beginning of May I have been completing an internship as an Environmental Educator with Willamette Resources and Educational Network (WREN). This internship is the result of a partnership between Mt. Adams Institute and funded by AmeriCorps placing young adults in positions to work in land stewardship and natural resource management, gaining hands-on learning opportunities and career development. I have been able to work on projects benefiting WREN while simultaneously obtaining experience and networking with other professionals in related fields.
WREN is an environmental education nonprofit located in the West Eugene Wetlands. The organization was born from the early efforts of passionate community members nicknamed “The Wet-heads” who understood the importance of the wetlands, other native habitats, and the species that call them home. In an effort to conserve the remaining 1% of the original wetland prairie and oak savanna habitats that historically blanketed the Willamette Valley, numerous agencies and organizations worked collaboratively to develop a plan for their protection and restoration. WREN has been a partner since the beginning and a bright leader in providing the community educational programming and resources for managing these critical habitats.
What I’ve Been Up To
Right from the start, I’ve been able to jump in and get my feet wet (pun intended). In the first week, we had 3 classroom visits to a few schools teaching 3rd grade students about the local habitats and ecosystems in Eugene. I enjoyed seeing their excitement for these topics and observing how Rachel and Isabel fostered an inquiry-based learning environment. It was a great introduction into part of the work I will be doing for the next 6 months. A lot of my focus will be geared towards a program WREN has been developing called the Youth Land Stewards Education Program (YLSEP). I will also be assisting with WREN’s social media accounts, community events, some video projects, and more. Read on to hear about the specifics I have been involved with.
Teaching and Observing
May and June were filled with ample learning opportunities and getting out of my comfort zone. I had the chance to log 27 hours observing and assisting in teaching WREN’s curriculum in the classroom and field trip settings to K-12 students. We covered topics including the role of pollinators, migration of birds, and the importance of watersheds. Students got to utilize scientific tools such as models, binoculars, magnifying glasses, and nature journals. It was a really insightful glimpse into the tremendously important work environmental educators play in helping stoke the interest of those who will be future land stewards and natural resource managers. I learned a lot about giving the students time and space to form their own hypotheses, share ideas with their peers, and apply what they learned through activities.
Teaching and classroom visits wrapped up in the middle of June with the end of the school year. I have been working hard putting together a video to recap YLSEP’s pilot year. This has been new and challenging for me figuring out how to use video editing software. It took a bit of time but I am pleased with how the project turned out and the new skills developed. I have been able to shift my focus to learning more about creating activities in line with our curriculum for the YLSEP program. It has been a fascinating process learning how to shape an activity in such a way that provides the intended learning results while meeting education standards and being age-level appropriate. One resource that I am pretty excited about having developed is a dichotomous key worksheet. I think it will be a nice addition to the lesson materials that teachers will have access to and fun for the students! More to come in this area as the summer progresses.
Getting to know the Community
Among the many things that I am grateful for associated with this internship is the position it puts me in to be actively involved in the community. Having just moved to Eugene prior to the start of this internship, it has been so fun to meet many new people and experience what the community is about.
Each month WREN puts on a Wetland Wander. This is a guided walk through a local nature site with a specialist in any number of scientific fields. There is quite a dedicated core group that regularly show up and a few new participants each time. The enthusiasm they have for continued learning and passion for plants, birds, and nature is contagious. A couple of my personal favorite walks have been at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum with a local bat specialist and our last walk at Dragonfly Bend with an ecologist who works for the city. It is nice to know that the small part we play in facilitating community gatherings promotes learning and friendships
A major highlight has been representing WREN at community events. In May, I got to table at the Mt Pisgah Wildflower Festival. This is a huge gathering of nonprofit organizations, nature enthusiasts, lovers of flowers, and local vendors. I was energized by people’s appreciation of the work we do as an environmental nonprofit and inspired by the efforts of many others in different areas of stewardship, education, outreach, and activism. Getting to meet new friends and share positive interactions while in a beautiful place filled my cup. This has been my experience at other events including tabling at We Are Bethel and our Family Exploration Days.
Field Work
Before starting my internship, I didn’t know that this was going to be a part of what I got to participate in. I have been thrilled that it is included in my schedule! Sharing an office with the BLM has allowed me to rub shoulders with and learn about numerous careers related to land stewardship and natural resource management. Working with a BLM botanist, I have spent 50 hours in the field learning how to identify species of concern. This has included opportunities to develop field work skills like setting up transects, recording field data, GIS/GPS plot locating, and species identification.
In June, we spent multiple days surveying for the endangered Willamette Daisy. It is a beautiful little pale purple flower that is endemic to the Willamette Valley. Like many other native wet prairie plants, it has suffered from urban and agricultural development and competition from hardy invasive species. Historically, it benefited from natural fire events and indigenous land management practices. It has been rewarding to spend time surveying some of the populations around Eugene and learn about plans to ensure its continued presence.
I was elated upon discovering that I had been selected for this internship as an Environmental Educator with WREN. From the position description, interviews with WREN’s Education Director Isabel Justiniano, and participating in orientation trainings with Mt. Adams Institute, I knew that this was exactly the kind of experience that I was looking for. My expectations thus far have been exceeded! Experiences in the classroom teaching science concepts, learning about creating curriculum, and actively engaging the community through events has opened my eyes to ideas I want to pursue for a future career. There has been plenty of growth as I am encouraged to engage with curriculum development, social media management, and field work – all areas that I have not had previous experience. All along the way I have been met with encouraging feedback, support, and instruction. It’s been an awesome experience to be stretched and allowed to develop skills that will directly benefit me in the future all while serving my community!
Field Note Entry 2.0
As my time as an AmeriCorps intern with Mt. Adams Institute, working in Environmental Education for Willamette Resources and Educational Network (WREN), winds down, I’ve had ample time to reflect on my experience during the few quiet moments in an otherwise busy fall schedule. Prior to this opportunity, I found it difficult to land an entry-level job in community environmental education and land stewardship. This internship put me in a position to learn, grow, and develop skills in all the ways I had been seeking, while simultaneously allowing for tremendous career advancement and networking connections. I have really enjoyed being involved in the community and feeling like I contribute something positive! Teaching students of all ages pushed me out of my comfort zone, and as a result, my confidence in my ability to share scientific information has blossomed. Following this internship, I will be staying on at WREN as a Program Assistant. I am so grateful for this opportunity, which came as a direct result of my participation as an intern through this program!
At WREN, I had the privilege of having wonderful supervisors who became mentors and friends. They showed me how equal parts preparation, passion, and creative problem-solving go a long way in carrying out the mission of an organization and conveying the importance of environmentally minded land stewardship. I thoroughly enjoyed learning how to tailor our message to each group, as our programs included participants ranging from kindergarteners to adults. A major highlight was interacting with the K-12 students, teaching topics related to wetlands, conservation, watersheds, and more in the classroom and on field trips!
Working in a small nonprofit organization, I have learned to efficiently juggle multiple tasks, prioritize projects, take ownership and initiative, and work in a more organized manner. These skills will translate into my future work and are highly valuable to me. I am confident that, as a result of my time as an intern, I am better prepared to bring experience, value, and individuality to future organizations as I continue pursuing career opportunities that allow me to advocate for the environment and encourage community engagement in related issues.
Some of Nate’s accomplishments this year include:
📚 Reaching over 665 students through engaging lessons and field trips
🌱 Surveying 625 Willamette Daisy plants and assessing 5 acres of land for restoration
🎥 Producing 3 videos and creating 3 blog posts to connect the community with WREN’s mission
🖼️ Designing 2 posters/signs to support environmental education
Here’s what his supervisor, Rachel Shneiderman, had to say:
“I’ve just been blown away by his dedication, his passion, and his creativity. He has been so helpful with our social media presence and really taking any feedback that he’s gotten and applying it to his teaching…So, it’s been so awesome to have Nate around. He’s so reliable and I just know, I can trust him with whatever I give him. I’m so so excited to have him stay on with us as Programs Assistant, full time after his internship ends,” said Rachel.
“I was Incredibly grateful for Rachel and all her tutelage. I’m really excited for the growth that I experienced and also for the opportunity to stay on as Program Assistant with WREN. I think that’ll be a lot of cool things to look forward to.” said Nate.
We’re so proud of the incredible work Nate has done and can’t wait to see his continued impact as WREN’s new Programs Assistant! If you’re passionate about making a difference, check out our Land Stewards program and join the mission to protect and restore natural spaces