My name is Nate Jensen and I grew up in Salt Lake City, UT at the base of Millcreek Canyon. I am grateful to have grown up in such a beautiful place with the opportunity to explore Utah’s diverse ecosystems. With the Wasatch Mountain range in my backyard and the Uinta’s just a short drive away, I fell in love with running, hiking, and backpacking their awesome trails! These mountains offered a refuge and nurtured a curiosity for their unique plant and animal life. I attended Utah Valley University studying Exercise Science and Biology and continued to pursue passions such as ultra-running and backpacking. Spending time moving through wild places fostered a desire to protect and advocate for the places of natural beauty that I love to explore. After finishing up at UVU, I headed to the US border of Mexico and began through hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Then I spent a few years working for Patagonia nurturing my interest in beginning a career in environmental work. In my free time, I love to hike with my partner, reading, and playing with our cat.
I saw this opportunity and immediately applied to become a Mt. Adams Institute AmeriCorps intern. It felt like the perfect blend of personal and professional growth that I have been looking for. MAI’s commitment to providing career development, environmental nonprofit experience, and natural resource management while getting to develop skills and build community is invaluable. Through this internship and in partnership with WREN I am excited to gain experience in environmental education, science-based habit management and conservation, and community engagement. I can’t wait to learn a lot and develop new skills in the field!