By Oliver Erickson, Land Stewards Intern serving on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan, WA ENTRY 1: "Beauty does not evade our gaze. Rather, she seeks to be met in all she is and wherever she resides. Not difficult to be found yet often passed by." ENTRY 2: "I have learned a great...
Howdy! My name is Eli VanDeHey, I grew up in Trout Lake, Washington, right at the base of Mt. Adams where MAI is headquartered. My love for the outdoors really stems from growing up in and around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, camping and hiking with my family and climbing and bushwhacking...
Hi, I'm Saul from Trout Lake, Washington. Growing up, being outdoors was a huge part of my life. Coming from a town of less than a thousand people didn't leave me a lot of options in terms of entertainment. Because of this I spent most of my time outside, biking, fishing, hiking and exploring the...
My name is Kevin, and I grew up on Long Island, New York. My love for the outdoors started at a young age through hiking with my family on trails in the Northeast. That passion continued to grow through my involvement in my school’s Outdoor Adventure Club, where I went on hiking and backpacking...
Hello, my name is Seth Johnson, and I am from Nashville Tennessee. I grew up catching snakes and walking creeks looking for turtles, frogs and anything else I could find. I enjoy fishing, kayaking, camping or just sitting by the creek, and I can always find an excuse to spend the weekend in the...
I’m from Denver, CO and spent time enjoying the many local national forests, parks and backcountry of Colorado as a youth. I love to backpack and spend time in the mountains and have rekindled my passion for the outdoors in the last few years. I have a career working in automotive sales but I am...
I'm Matthew Sheehy; I grew up just outside of Union, OR where I still live. My family raises sheep and grows grass hay and alfalfa. I've been working at a local farm and a pizza restaurant over the past six years. I've grown a love for hiking and being in the wilderness from spending time in the...
Hi! I'm Anne from Troutdale, Oregon, PNW born and raised. I was raised on a retired plant nursery surrounded by acres of plants, wildlife, and plenty of opportunities for adventure as a kid. My family took me hiking across all the waterfalls and trails in the Columbia River Gorge. We often...
Hi, I am Colby Killingsworth. I was born in Alaska, and raised in a small town of Paris, Texas. I have been living in Nashville, TN for the past six years. I am an Army Veteran; served from 2010-2016. I have always enjoyed the outdoors from an early age of going and exploring the outdoors with my...
I was born in Ellicott City, Maryland where I grew up running through the woods behind our house with the other neighborhood kids. I remember bluegill fishing, climbing trees, and swinging on the rope swing over the creek behind our house. Looking back fondly on these memories, this is where my...
By Ryan Zamonis, VetsWork Intern serving with the Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Vancouver, WA Trading a decade of high-stakes naval aviation discipline for the rugged landscapes of natural resource conservation marks a definitive evolution in...
By Oliver Erickson, Land Stewards Intern serving on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan, WA ENTRY 1: "Beauty does not evade our gaze. Rather, she seeks to be met in all she is and wherever she resides. Not difficult to be found yet often passed by." ENTRY...
By Scot Clark, VetsWork Intern serving with CA Department of Fish and Wildlife in Arcata, CA Since my first day interning with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) through the Mt. Adams Institute's VetsWork program, I have been immersed in an...
By Ryan Robinson, VetsWork Intern serving on Mark Twain National Forest in Rolla, MO As I near the end of my internship with the Mark Twain National Forest and reflect on how the last 10 months have gone, the word that comes to mind most is appreciation. I entered...
By Ryan Zamonis, VetsWork Intern serving with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service out of Vancouver, WA. What have you worked on, and how has it benefited your service site or community?During my service, I balanced complex technical data management with field operations to...
After extensive reflection and careful consideration, the Board voted to cease MAI operations and dissolve the organization effective December 31, 2026.
Dear Partners, Interns, Alumni, and Community Members,I want to share an important update regarding the future of Mt. Adams Institute (MAI). After extensive reflection and careful consideration, the Board has made the decision to cease operations as of December 31,...
By Valentin Pulido, VetsWork Intern serving with Ottawa National Forest in MI. My name is Valentin Pulido, and I am a Land Survey Tech intern with the Ottawa National Forest (ONF). Having recently obtained a graduate degree, I appreciate the opportunities for further...
By Brianna Hungerford, Land Stewards Intern serving with Mt. Hood National Forest. Over the past three months serving as a Land Steward with Mt. Adams Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service in the Mt. Hood National Forest, I’ve grown tremendously—both...
By Carl Cruz, VetsWork Intern serving with Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership in OR. As a Vetworks Intern with the Mt. Adams Institute, I am completing my term with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) in Portland, Oregon. This role has allowed me to develop...