What an incredible three months this has been for me, when I first started this program, I really didn’t know what to expect, was I going to love it or hate it? Are the other interns and forest service employees going to be good people? Can I handle living away from my parents? After three months...
My first summer on the west coast has been filled with adventures both professional and personal. I’ve explored Mt Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge, as well as Portland, all the while really getting to know the Timberline lodge inside and out. My tours of the lodge were shaky at...
I am so excited to be serving an Americorps internship with the US Forest Service through the Mt. Adams Institute’s Public Lands Stewards program! I have been working as a wilderness ranger at Mt. Adams Ranger District for about 10 weeks now and already have been able to learn so much about...
The first week I was at my internship I went on a walk around the wetlands by myself with the goal of learning the names of 5 flowers and 3 insects. I had just downloaded the app Seek by recommendation from my boss. Seek is an app (that I also now recommend to everyone) that has you scan plants,...
I have been an avid outdoorsman my entire life. Hiking and exploring the bountiful forests of Washington State has been a favorite summer pastime for me, but it was never something that I thought I’d actually be paid to do. My AmeriCorps internship with the Entiat Ranger District has allowed me to...
This is my second Americorps position, and there are many reasons why I decided to serve another term after my first one. My position title is Wilderness Backcountry Ranger and I currently serve in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in the Entiat Ranger District. My main responsibilities as a...
Every job has its ups and downs. Being a backcountry wilderness ranger is no different. Today is a down day. I have a bit of a migraine, and our original trip plans to work our way up the Prince Creek Trail doing logout have been thwarted by the fact that the river that we had expected to cross...
One can engage in few activities more rewarding than meaningful labor done willingly. That is the core of public lands stewardship. I grew up playing in the woods and creeks of western Pennsylvania, but sometime in my teenage years, I lost my connection to the land. After bouncing from one...
Conboy National Wildlife Refuge As a Public Lands Steward with AmeriCorps, I’m stationed at the Conboy National Wildlife Refuge in Glenwood, Washington. Conboy is a refuge hosting various waterfowl, elk, reptiles, amphibians, and many species of birds. The most notable species are Oregon spotted...
Trout Lake, WA - Mt. Adams Institute has received a $1,149,768 grant from AmeriCorps the federal agency responsible for national service and community volunteerism. This funding will support up to 74 AmeriCorps members across the country participating in Mt. Adams Institute’s career development...
What a year this has been so far! Throughout my internship, I have been exposed to so many new learning opportunities. My position had a slow start, but as my qualifications began stacking up, so did the availability of work I was able to do. A large majority of what...
Veterans Day Celebration: Julian Rodriguez Our Outreach Coordinator had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of current and former VetsWork Interns to discuss their service, current roles, and connections to the outdoors. Read below about Julian Rodriguez,...
Veterans Day Celebration: Patrick Ford Our Outreach Coordinator had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of current and former VetsWork Interns to discuss their service, current roles, and connections to the outdoors. Read below about Patrick Ford, Volunteer...
Veterans Day Celebration: Chris Sutherland Our Outreach Coordinator had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of current and former VetsWork Interns to discuss their service, current roles, and connections to the outdoors. Read below about Chris Sutherland, Field...
Veterans Day Celebration: Elamon White Our Outreach Coordinator had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of current and former VetsWork Interns to discuss their service, current roles, and connections to the outdoors. Read below about Elamon White, VetsWork Alum...
Veterans Day Celebration: Amanda Williams Our Outreach Coordinator had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of current and former VetsWork Interns to discuss their service, current roles, and connections to the outdoors. Read below about Amanda Williams, Public...
A huge thank you to all of our Season 12 sponsors! Without your generosity, Sense of Place would not be possible. Find out more about our sponsors below. Gorge Community Foundation Dog River Coffee Columbia Insight Insitu Columbia Gorge Physical Therapy and Sports...
Trout Lake, Wash. (Oct. 3, 2021) — Mt. Adams Institute (MAI) received a $75,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for facility construction and renovation on MAI’s campus. This includes final additions to the new pavilion, replacement of bunkhouse...
After spending the past ten years as the Executive Director of the Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), I have decided to step away from the organization.. . . AND that’s a good thing! Let me tell you why. In the beginning, MAI was just an idea that stemmed from finding myself...
Mt. Adams Institute (MAI) is recruiting a new executive director. Current leader, Brendan Norman, announced his resignation effective May 1, 2022. Norman, along with MAI’s founding board of directors, created the organization in 2011. MAI, a nonprofit organization...