by mtadams | Oct 19, 2020 | Lands Stewards
When it comes to our nations natural resources many career environmentalists are faced with similar questions to very different situations. One question that is often presented to managers, biologists, and field technicians is “conservation or preservation?” These two...
by mtadams | Sep 21, 2020 | Lands Stewards
Arriving at Conboy Lake National Wildlife in the spring is a spectacle unlike anything I had ever experienced. Growing up in Florida the transition from winter to summer appears to happen overnight, what may have been a month of cool weather immediately turns to an...
by mtadams | Sep 21, 2020 | Lands Stewards
When describing what Mt. Adams Institute provides- a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, make lasting connections with professionals in your desired field of work, serve and engage with your community, all with the support of the caring individuals that...
by mtadams | Aug 5, 2020 | Lands Stewards
My name is Dakota Miller, I grew up in the beautiful state of Florida and love fishing, hiking, camping, and being on the water. After graduating high school I enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed a six year enlistment with the Air National Guard....
by mtadams | Aug 5, 2020 | Lands Stewards
I grew up in a family that loved to play outdoors and go camping as often as possible. I always had a fascination for wildlife, and I knew that I wanted to explore my passion for nature for my life’s work. It was not until I had almost completed two years of my...
by mtadams | Oct 23, 2019 | Lands Stewards
Winter has come… It is now October; the grass is icy and the air crisp. Our last month has come and I still remember the first time I drove up the long winding roads across the Columbia River and the sketchy metal Hood River bridge (not actually that sketchy...
by mtadams | Sep 6, 2019 | Lands Stewards
Water is Life May, water is abundant Meandering through channels and Man-made ditches It comes up to your chest Don’t top! July, water is disappearing Forced to a stop By the disputes of men Mud and duck tracks are reminders Of what once was Some strongholds remain...
by mtadams | Sep 6, 2019 | Lands Stewards
My first month at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge began with lots of training and learning. For the last couple of weeks I have been surveying at Wapato Lake for two main invasive species – Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) and Iris...
by mtadams | Sep 6, 2019 | Lands Stewards
Conboy Lake is not really a lake. Mice can maneuver into the inside of cars and eat emergency ramen rations. Use one hand to catch bullfrogs. Toads breed in hordes. Bring a plank for crossing streams. And lastly, unless you’re over 50 years old, don’t even try to play...
by mtadams | Nov 12, 2018 | Land Stewards
I am currently in the final month of this internship and I couldn’t have asked for a more adventurous summer. Emily and I have been thrown multiple curveballs this summer, from our manager having part of his finger cut off in a non-work related accident, to the...
by mtadams | Nov 12, 2018 | Land Stewards
It is now October and Conboy Lake is painted with beautiful hues of orange, yellow and red as the quaking aspen leaves change to their fall colors. The wildlife is in full force; I can barely sleep through the sounds of elk bugling and owls hooting through the night....
by mtadams | Jul 24, 2018 | Land Stewards
It is now about two months into my internship at the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge and it has definitely been a drastic change from my home in Alabama. I skipped my college graduation (which I had been searching for a good reason to do) because I was riding in...
by mtadams | Jul 24, 2018 | Land Stewards
I’m writing this as I wait for the sun to go down so that Hannah, my AmeriCorps partner, and I can begin our nighttime bullfrog hunt. I’d really like to use a better word than hunt, say survey or monitoring, but hunting for all intensive purposes is what we do....
