VetsWork: Where I’m Supposed to Be

Have you ever felt as if you were in the right place? The right time? The correct course and exactly where you’re supposed be? That’s exactly how I felt when I climbed out of my truck for the first day of my internship. Since that time its been a nonstop roller...

VetsWork: Ranging the Pacific Coast

Since February I’ve been working hand in hand with Kraig Lindelin, who is the trails and wilderness coordinator for the Central Coast Ranger District out of Waldport, OR. We’re rangers in the Siuslaw National Forest on Oregon’s Pacific coast, covering 126 miles of...

VetsWork: Finding Fellowship With Nature

As a veteran recently separated from active duty it has been a blessing to have found something that connects me to nature. I recently started my internship with the Hoosier National Forest (HNF) through the VetsWork AmeriCorps program as a recreation technician....

VetsWork: A New Team with the Forest Service

Working as an intern for the Forest Service through the VetsWork program of the Mt. Adams Institute has been a remarkable networking and learning opportunity. Only a month in to the timeline of the program and I have already had the chance to work within the...

VetsWork: On the Topic of Service

Service. A substantial word with different interpretations for different people. For the longest time, I thought that service meant the service. I joined the Army when I was barely 18, because I, like millions of other kids, had seen the Twin Towers fall, what evil...

VetsWork: Snags & Habitat

  I have been a part of many projects since the start of my VetsWork AmeriCorps internship with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I’ve marked skid trails for loggers and helped examine tree stands determined for fuels reduction which includes measuring the...

VetsWork: An Unknown Phenomenon

Hi my name is Spike. I am an AmeriCorps VetsWork member serving through the Mt Adams Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the connection between people and the natural world. I am working as a trail crew intern in the Hells Canyon...

VetsWork: Umatilla National Forest Intern

Mt. Adams Institute, AmeriCorps, and their VetsWork Environment program have granted me a splendid chance to find a job in my desired field. I’ve always known that I wanted to work outdoors and because of fortunate incidents I found myself a great opportunity as an...

VetsWork: More Than What I Expected. . .

My first month as a VetsWork AmeriCorps intern with the Mt. Adams Institute, living and working in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has been awesome! I moved here from New England, not knowing what to expect. Would this be the start of a career, or just a...

VetsWork: True Confessions of an Intern

“And we’re off!” Hey there, I am Brandon Mersich an AmeriCorps/Vetswork intern currently relocated from Southern California to Eastern Oregon on the Malheur National Forest. Mt. Adams Institute’s VetsWork program has provided me with a great position as a recreational...

VetsWork: One Month in at KCD

Joining the VetsWork program under the Mt. Adams Institute was definitely a leap of faith for me. I always knew about AmeriCorps but never knew they had so many programs and one that was specifically for veterans. I am still within the first month of working with the...

VetsWork: An Impactful Month

I have recently started my internship with the Deschutes National Forest (DNF) as a facilities maintenance technician working out of the Redmond Air Center. Through all the introductions to co-workers and different sites within the DNF I have found myself integrated...

VetsWork: My Future with Fire

The VetsWork program of the Mt. Adams Institute gave me access to several different experiences that I would not have had otherwise. I am very thankful for these opportunities and I can’t express how much they have impacted my future career choices. One of the...

VetsWork: Looking Forward to My Future

It amazing to think that this VetsWork program with the Mt. Adams Institute is coming to an end. The experience I have had at Mt. Hood National Forest was completely amazing. I have had an opportunity to learn many new things and I have gained skills that will...

VetsWork: Reflection of a Great Internship

What can the Mt Adams Institute do for you!?! They can put you in a place to succeed! Just the fancy college degree will not always get you the job; employers want you to have real job experience. The AmeriCorps VetsWork internship provides you with just that. And the...

VetsWork: An Unforgettable Place

This will be my final blog for my internship with the U.S. Forest Service through Mt. Adams Institute. I got to be part of a program called VetsWork where I was partnered with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s district range department. I got to hike all over...

VetsWork: Finding your Way

Serving through AmeriCorps on the Mark Twain National Forest I have gained numerous experiences and knowledge that I will be able to apply furthermore into a career position with the Forest Service. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by those who support my...