VetsWork Environment – Mt. Adams Institute

Meet Kirstin Thompson, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:30:30 +0000

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I have a degree in outdoor recreation. I am a passionate rugby fan and zip line enthusiast. I love camping and hiking; I knew growing up that I wanted to work outside. Before I joined the Coast Guard I was working in the challenge course industry and really missed it during my service. Unfortunately it is a very seasonal job.

I’m looking forward to the VetsWork program because I want to gain more knowledge about the US Forest Service and be able to find a job in conserving our forests. I am really looking forward to working outside and ensuring future generations can do the same.

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Meet Yori Ogunnaike, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:28:44 +0000

My name is Yori. I was born and raised in Nigeria. When I was sixteen I moved to America. My uncle in Virginia adopted me, and that’s where I ended up continuing my homeschool education. After graduating from high school, I moved to Tennessee to attend college. After one semester, I decided to join the Army.

After serving eight years in the Army, I decided to get out and finish school; I wanted to do something more for my community and myself. I graduated this past December of 2019 with a degree in applied sciences with a focus on unmanned aerial systems. I hope to be able to use the knowledge that I’ve gained so far to make a difference in other peoples lives.

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Meet Will Fisher, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:25:33 +0000

I grew up in Pennsylvania and have always loved being outdoors. I served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and traveled to many parts of the world, getting out into nature as often as possible. Since leaving the Air Force I studied for two years at Alderleaf Wilderness College, and learned a great deal about the natural world and what it provides us.

I am excited to be a Mt. Adams Institute AmeriCorps intern and gain valuable experience, so that I can continue to learn and teach others the skills to help our communities and natural areas.

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Meet Rebekah Kammeyer, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:24:07 +0000

I am from Southern Appalachia and consider the outdoors to be a big part of my culture. I was raised outside of Knoxville, TN. I joined the Navy right out of high school and did four years of active duty; nearly all of that time was spent out to sea. After I got out of active duty, I joined the Navy Reserve where I still continue to serve; I almost have ten years of service in the military.

This is my second AmeriCorps internship in the VetsWork program. My first term was in 2017 on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. The internship opened so many doors for me and landed me a job as a seasonal park ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and helped me obtain a full-time position working for the US Army’s Moral, Welfare, and Recreation program in Hawaii as a recreation specialist and advisor. During that job I realized I truly loved working outdoors and wanted to get back into the industry. After a talk with my husband, who is still active duty, we decided that it was time I started doing what I love again.

I am currently only one semester short of getting my bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in parks and recreation management (online). Because I was a transfer student I was able to create my own degree concentration of sustainable ecology. I plan on finishing my degree during this term of service. VetsWork is a great program and it really helps give veterans the tools to continue on with the next stages of their lives. I am really looking forward to getting to know people with similar interests, as well as working in a new part of the country.

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Meet Krystal Hedrick, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:21:22 +0000

I grew up in the mountains of Colorado where I hiked, camped, and skied every chance I got. From my first job with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps when I was 14, to working as a medic in the Army years later, to earning my bachelor’s degree in environmental science, service and the environment have been the leading themes in my life.

That is why Mt. Adams Institute’s VetsWork AmeriCorps program stuck out to me. I’m excited about combining these themes with my education to serve communities and care for the environment I love. I’m hoping to make connections and gain experience in the environmental field so I can go on to pursue a meaningful career in environmental science.

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Meet Jon Knepper, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:18:19 +0000

I grew up in a small town in Ohio called Grand Rapids. I joined the Marine Corps in 2010 and was with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines throughout my four-year enlistment. After I got out, I went to welding school in Ohio to further educate myself. I later joined the work force, working with several large and small welding operations in Ohio and in Washington State. In 2016, I took six months off work to hike the Appalachian Trail. I then returned to Ohio until 2018 when I set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). After finishing the PCT I loved Washington State so much I decided to stay. After seeing the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen in my life, and realizing the amount of work it takes to maintain and preserve this natural land for the future, I wanted to be part of that more than anything.

During my VetsWork AmeriCorps internship, I will learn everything I possibly can about the projects I am involved with so that I can hopefully obtain a full-time position with the US Forest Service. It is my goal to not just better myself but to make a difference in the areas I will be working.

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Meet Justin Carr, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:16:45 +0000

I grew up in Ohio. I joined the Air Force in 2001 and still continue to serve as a Reservist. I am an avid hiker and backpacker, having completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 as well as the Colorado Trail in 2019. I recently graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in environmental science.

I am excited to be a part of the VetsWork AmeriCorps internship program with Willamette Riverkeeper and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration doing river restoration work which I am very passionate about.

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Meet Hunter Haley, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:15:32 +0000

I was an intelligence analyst with six years of service in the United States Navy. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, I enjoy white-water rafting, hiking, and reading (especially Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” series).

I decided to become a Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork AmeriCorps intern to prepare myself for an undergraduate degree in environmental science and continue serving my country through community service. What excites me most about his position as a geologist/minerals administrator intern is the prospect of performing fieldwork in Washington and learning more about the principles of geology.

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Meet Gina Kennedy, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:13:29 +0000

I grew up in Shelton, WA. I love the smell of the rain and the beauty of the mountains. Even after I joined the military I knew that I would always consider WA and OR my home. I served in the Army from 2000 to 2004 and I am an OIF Veteran. Even though I left the military after only four years of service, I am proud to have served my country. For a short time, I was part of something bigger than myself and I will be forever grateful and honored to have survived the experience. Shortly after my honorable discharge from the Army, I used my GI Bill to complete a two-year automotive program where I received my A.A.S. degree in automotive technology. Five years later, I decided I wanted to return to school to earn my bachelor’s degree in engineering. Needless to say, after a lot of trial and error and learning more about myself I realized that the field of environmental science is where I belong. This degree not only brings me closer to nature but also allows me to help conserve, preserve, protect, and restore the environment in a way that benefits both the ecosystem and the local community.

This is what is so exciting about the VetsWork AmeriCorps internship with Mt. Adams Institute. I get to work in, with, and for nature, and continue my environmental education while giving back to my community. On top of it all, I will have the added bonus of being surrounded by people who share the same enthusiasm and aspirations about the environment as I do. I know this will be an unforgettable experience and I can’t wait to get to work!

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Meet Chris Sutherland, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:12:03 +0000

Hello everyone, my name is Chris and I am joining Mt. Adams Institute for a second VetsWork AmeriCorps internship. I am so excited to return and meet the new VetsWork cohort. I am also thrilled to be working with the amazing people at Tillamook Estuaries Partnership for one more year! This is an amazing program and is designed for us the veterans.

I’m a native Cali boy from Santa Cruz. I grew up in the surf and sun, the redwoods and the mountains. I love the coast; I love taking care of this planet! I served in the United States Coast Guard and I am a graduate of Portland State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on environmental studies and geography. I wish to continue my studies and be an active member in the environmental field. I’m hoping to continue to transform and grow; I want to be positive, active, and help others to do the same. There is plenty of work to be done; I wish everyone the best this year!

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Meet David Escarcega, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 21:00:46 +0000

I grew up in Brownsville, Texas and spent my summers on the family farm in Zacatecas, Mexico. I sincerely love hiking in the outdoors and have lost count of how many so called mountains I’ve climbed. They’ve been mostly smaller type hills like Mt. Diablo in California and Mt. Bonnell in Texas. I’ve served both in the Marines and the Army and spent the majority of it in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively. I also have a bachelor’s degree in history which I received between my time in the Marines and Army. I recently married my beautiful wife who I’ve known since my time in college.

I have two goals: be a better husband, and pursue a career in the Forest Service that allows me to fulfill having a profession that has a deep meaning for myself. I chose to become a Mt. Adams Institute intern because it is providing me with the amazing opportunity to work in the outdoors in such a way that I feel I am going to be part of it. What excites me most is that I am going to have a profession where I get to engage with people in a meaningful way in the most beautiful scenery on earth. What I hope to get from this experience is a good understanding of what it takes to be a valuable member of the Forest Service. I hope to see and touch as much of the National Forest I work in. I hope I get to breathe fresh air every day and feel both the sun’s warmth in the summer and even the cold in the winter. It feels good to actually feel the seasons changing and I very much look forward to being a part of it.

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Meet Nick Maze, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:55:38 +0000

I grew up exploring in the William B. Bankhead National Forest. The forest was quite literally my backyard, and with the help of a vivid imagination, I decided my career choices at a young age. Whether it be acquiring branches as crude weaponry and playing “army”, searching for arrowheads, or tracking down rare salamander species, I was never bored. My love for the outdoors never faded. Joining the Marine Corps in 2015, I had plenty of outdoors and field time in a vast array of climates. From the Mojave Desert to the pine forests of North Carolina stateside, and from the deserts of the Middle East to the lush deciduous forests of Southeast Asia, I still haven’t had my fill.

I lucked upon a job posting for this internship position online and knew instantly it was perfect for me. I look to further my knowledge in anything and everything outdoors, and do my part to preserve that for generations to come, all while having a great potential career supporting my two daughters and soon to be born son.

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Meet Michael Zsembik, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:49:36 +0000

I grew up deep in the heart of Texas, in the capital Austin. I enjoy mountain biking, bird watching, and as silly as it sounds getting butterflies to land on my fingers. During my Naval service, my ship responded to the 2010 earthquake disaster in Port au Prince, Haiti and sailed through the straights of Magellan at the tip of South America within three months. My family is probably my biggest support system and I truly cherish them for that and try to remind them how much they mean to me more often than not.

I chose to be a Mt. Adams Institute AmeriCorps intern because I can gain valuable real world experience in the field I studied in college and truly make impactful change in the natural world that all life depends on. I also chose Mt. Adams Institute because it helps veterans find new professional pathways where they can apply the sense of service and integrity learned to environmental stewardship. I would say I am most excited about being in the forest and connecting to the land in a more meaningful way far from distractions. I am thrilled to cultivate a professional skill set with a hands on approach.

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Meet Jason Holifield, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:44:34 +0000

Growing up in northern California some of my fondest childhood memories were trips with my grandparents to the Redwood Forests. I was simply awe struck to see the world’s tallest trees. This early experience left a lasting impression.

After five years in the military as an Intelligence Analyst, I developed a strong desire to lead a simpler life. I took every opportunity to travel. My first adventure was to Australia, where they live very near to nature. While in Australia, I scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, and hiked the Great Ocean Road. I then traveled to China to be a volunteer teacher. One of my favorite things about China is the significant role scholar’s gardens play in Chinese culture. I was fortunate enough to visit several of China’s famous scholar’s gardens and tea garden cities. After leaving China, I went to Sweden. Sweden is made up of over 50% forest land. I enjoyed wandering in the woods, picking wild blueberries and chanterelle mushrooms. I eventually settled back in the U.S., and purchased my own little piece of property in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is an old schoolhouse on five acres full of old growth forest trees, small brooks and a couple of artesian springs. And now I wander my own woods and observe nature.

I’ve always been enthusiastic about learning, as well as, educating others and I am excited to join the Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork program as a volunteer coordinator. I am thrilled to be able to attend the Wilderness Skills Institute, learn about wilderness ethics, and share that knowledge with the public. I hope to draw inspiration and ideas from this internship that I plan to use as a stepping stone to a fulfilling career in forestry!

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Meet Jason Chapman, 2020 VetsWork AmeriCorps Intern!

mtadams — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:38:12 +0000

I grew up in northern Georgia. Shortly after high school, I joined the U.S. Army and became an Airborne Ranger. In 2015 I retired from the U.S. Army with over 21 years of active service as a Special Forces Non-Commissioned officer. Since retirement I have been searching for an opportunity that would enable me to do meaningful work and protect our natural resources while working outdoors.

Being selected by the Mt Adams Institute’s VetsWork program has really given me the opportunity to achieve my goals as a steward of our natural resources. This opportunity gives me a new mission and I am very honored to be selected.

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