My name is Taylor Eigenhuis, but everyone has been calling me Creature or Critter since I was younger, so I’ve since embraced those nicknames as well. I’m 22 years old and was born and raised in Ventura, California, with my parents and two brothers. Growing up, I’ve always had an unconditional...
Hi everyone, I’m Sienna! I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and grew up with a love for the natural world around me. I graduated with my B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida in 2022. Since then, I’ve spent my time working various seasonal technician jobs and exploring the...
Environmental Educator for the Willamette Resources and Educational Network
I'm originally from the metro Boston area, and I grew up in Massachusetts. After high school, I took a NOLS course in Wyoming, and that cemented my love for the outdoors and sparked an interest in wilderness medicine. After returning to my home state, I served as an EMT for the city of Brockton...
My love for the outdoors started as a Boy Scout in Massachusetts, but I came to love outdoor recreation and adventure education during my gap year. I got to travel and learn about new sports and skills like mountaineering, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and teaching. Once I started at Oregon State...
Growing up in Colorado, I developed a strong affinity for the outdoors from a young age. Hiking, camping, fishing, etc. all were my primary outlets for connecting with nature. This connection led quickly to a passion for preservation and when it came time to choose a college major at University of...
I grew up on a small farm in rural Nebraska. From a young age, I was taught to appreciate the outdoors and to take care of the land that takes care of us. Most of my free time is spent backpacking, hiking, camping, and generally spending time outdoors. Once I graduated high school, I started...
This year has been more than I ever thought it could be and then some serving with the Mount Adams Institute and the Forest Service. Between all the hard work, amazing sights, and just as amazing people to work with, what more could a guy ask for? In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect on...
Coming into the Mt Adams Institute Land Stewards Program after fulfilling a previous AmeriCorps Internship I was very excited to see where this position would take me. Not only would I be doing my mainstay of Forest Service work as a Wilderness Ranger, but I would also be learning and honing other...
The following three haiku are a reflection of my experience so far. They are meant to come one after another, with no more separation than the physical indentation that is between them. tossing and turning the storm wants to chat... maybe for an hour my head in my hands, I wept on this...
During my time in Ukiah over the past few months, I have had invaluable time to reflect and plan in a peaceful, beautiful setting. I have made some lifelong friends and cherished memories, in addition to developing important career skills. Some of the skills I’ve been...
Six months or roughly half a year participating in this internship. At times it feels like it was more than that, at other times it feels like I just started yesterday. In terms of reflecting on this experience it is difficult, because so much happened but at the same...
"NOAA partners with several groups to recruit, hire, and support veteran interns throughout Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska. In 2023, we have several interns supported by one of these groups, Mt. Adams Institute. This Washington-based non-profit is...
The Land Stewards program appealed to me from the beginning for its focus on fostering a strong sense of place and developing professional skills and experiences. I knew I wanted to stay in the Mt. Hood National Forest, and was unsure of where and how to find pathway...
The last six months have been some of the best I've had. I have met so many insanely cool and inspiring people who have such a contagious enthusiasm for life. The people surrounding land stewardship and public land management, in general, are some of the best I have...
As a Recreation Resources Technician on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Randle, Washington, my main job is to conduct dispersed campsite inventories. A dispersed campsite is basically anywhere that the national forests are that anyone can camp just about...
The year started off slowly but that gave me plenty of time to get familiar with Juneau and Forest Service systems. I had great opportunities to gain some GIS familiarity, learn about the mines that we work with, learn about the culture and history of southeast...
Alexander Apelis here, a Vetswork intern with the Petersburg Ranger District serving as a Natural Resource Specialist Intern. In this picture, at Duncan Creek Fish Pass on Kupreanof Island NE of Petersburg, AK, I'm seen picking up a 100+ lb boulder that was found...
I grew up in the city of Billings, MT, where I first started exploring hiking and backpacking with my dad. We spent many summer weekends in the nearby Beartooth Mountains, enduring all kinds of weather while experiencing the powerful solitude of that rugged...
What sandy trails and drain dips taught me about life. As my crew walked along the trail, our sights set on a big project about a mile ahead, I noticed a large sandy section through a low point in the trail. As we passed by it, I addressed my confusion regarding...