Alaska has been called the last frontier, and for good reason. Continue Reading…
I am halfway through my second term with VetsWork and I’m feeling grateful for the opportunity that Mt. Adams Institute has given me. Continue Reading…
Greetings, welcome to the concise memoir of Patrick Ford, an AmeriCorps intern at the Andrew Pickens Ranger District (AP). Continue Reading…
I am eight months into my internship now, it’s mid-November, and there is snow on the mountains again, just like when I arrived. Continue Reading…
I am approaching the end of my AmeriCorps internship serving with the Monongahela National Forest located deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Continue Reading…
One of the greatest opportunities of the Mt. Adams Institute’s Public Lands Stewards program is the fact that not only do you get to work for the Forest Service as a wilderness ranger but you also get to shadow other employees in different positions and learn a multitude of diverse skills and tools for other sectors within the Forest Service. Continue Reading…
“Choose your own adventure” is how I would describe the wilderness. Shear scree fields, deafening thunderstorms, and collapsing trees in burn areas are some of the obstacles that will be faced. Continue Reading…
Think of your favorite movie, or just a scene or quotable line from a movie. Continue Reading…
When I applied to the VetsWork internship I had just finished my bachelor’s degree in exercise science and an internship with a college football team. Continue Reading…
First off: let me say that I never expected to be here. Friends and family always knew how much I love our public lands and wild spaces in general, but it simply never registered for me that my career path could involve helping others to enjoy the outdoors while getting to experience the richness of our region myself! Continue Reading…
My journey began with a cross-country road trip from Bloomington, Indiana to Entiat, Washington. Continue Reading…
The first few months of my time as a Mt. Adams Institute, Public Lands Stewards (PLS) AmeriCorps member have flown by- filled to the brim with stunning places, infinite amounts of mosquitoes (yikes!), and plenty of hard, rewarding work. Continue Reading…
Hello everyone! Growing up building forts and fishing in the creeks of the Pocono mountains, I have never been a stranger to the outdoors.
Sitting in the cool, air conditioned truck sipping on fruit punch Gatorade, I felt elated. Ecstatic. Completely and purely happy. This moment was easily one of the greatest moments of my entire life. And all it took was a gnarly week of patrolling. Continue Reading…
Feeling inspired from a recent snowshoeing expedition to investigate a snow-covered mining claim, I decided to purchase a set of snowshoes and check out the terrifically named — Lake Valhalla. Continue Reading…