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  • About Us
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To jump into another year of volunteering wasn’t an easy choice. But to be honest, pursuing a career in our living earth isn’t easy either. I already know I have a passion for fishes and at this point I feel like I do know a good amount about them too. I have a B.S. in biology, a minor in fisheries, research experience, an internship and volunteering at multiple national aquariums, and work in many retail aquarium stores. However, I still feel like I don’t know enough. I want to make a difference in conservation, and I want to go into that work knowing all I can about the animals I’ll be working with. This opportunity with Mt. Adams Institute, AmeriCorps, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will easily help me on my way to understanding more about these animals and the ways we can help conserve our Earth.

So here I am, I live on a hill overlooking Drano Lake in Cook, WA. For the next year I will be working at the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. I’m interning as a biological science technician, in hatchery terms they’re basically fish culturists. However, as an intern I have a special opportunity to learn about everybody else’s job here as well. This hatchery releases 5.5 million Chinook Salmon and spawns to provide millions of eggs for hatcheries throughout the U.S. So far, I’ve helped release roughly a million Spring run Chinook Salmon and take care of that roughly 5.5 million Chinook for their year. That’s just the basics though; animal husbandry is a dirty and hard job. Most of what I do includes cleaning Salmon raceways either by brushing or power washing empty ones. A lot of the rest of that time includes feeding and weighing out feed for the next feeding. You may think this sounds pretty repetitive, and you’re definitely right, no need to sugarcoat it. But animal husbandry is what you make of it. In the end, you’re making a world of difference to the animals you’re responsible for and there’s a lot of satisfaction in knowing you’re doing good work. Not only that but the work here at Little White bolsters wild Chinook populations, provides fish for tribal fishing, and fosters an appreciation for our aquatic resources by anglers nationwide.

In this near month and a half, I’ve been able to learn all about the inner workings of hatchery practices and equipment as well as visit one other hatchery in the Columbia River Gorge. Coming in the next few months I’ll be visiting the Carson Hatchery as well as tour the Abernathy Fish Technology Center. Surprisingly, I have had so much support with this hatchery and Mt. Adams Institute that I have never had in the past with other internships and volunteering. Having the on-site housing and a stipend is much appreciated and has attributed to such an amazing time here in the Columbia River Gorge. So far, I would rate this internship as the best I’ve done and I hope it translates to a real career and life success.

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Jul 16

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It was so much fun teaching mtadamsinstitute summer botany camp yesterday. The kids had a blast learning about plants and natural dyes. We had a field trip to bloomanddye to harvest fresh dye flowers and the older kids made bundle dyed bandanas. The young kids made indigo shibori bandanas and left with blue hands and blue arms! 💙🌿🌼💛 

I left exhausted with a big smile and full heart. Seeing the joy and happiness on these kids faces as they saw what they created was a treat. 

#naturaldyes 
#bundledye 
#indigo 
#indigodyed 
#botany 
#summercamp 
#mtadamsinstitute 
#troutlakewashington
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Aug 9

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We visited many places in the trout lake valley area to gather fresh ingredients for our outdoor cooking, here the Mt. Chef campers picked fresh vegetables and seasonings for our dumplings! 
#outdoored #outdoorcooking #cooking #troutlakeabbey #fresh #picking #cascademountainschool #mtadamsinstitute
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Jan 14

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Blue Hour at Mount Adams, The #bluehour is the period of #twilight when the Sun is at a significant depth below the horizon and residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue shade.
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#mtadamsinstitute  #mountainreflections  #explorewashstate #pnwonderland #cascadiaexplored #cascadia #wonderfulwashington #wonderfulwashingtonstate #pnwescapes #pnwadventures #pnwadventurers #pnwcrew #pnw_shooters #mtadams #giffordpinchotnationalforest #giffordpinchot #pnwphotographer #pnwphotography #leavenotrace #washingtonphotography #bluehourphotography #klickitatcounty #photography #blue #light #landscapephotography #landscapephotographer #mountains
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Jul 23

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Mask making with Primitive Skills Camp!  #primitiveskills #cascademountainschool #summer #mtadamsinstitute
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Apr 17

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KCD is sad to be losing the amazing Krystal Hedrick, who has accepted a new position as GIS Mapper with the Weld County Assessor’s Office in Colorado.

She served at KCD over the past year through Mount Adams Institute VetsWork, an AmeriCorps career development program for military veterans who want to work in natural resources management.

As a forest technician, Krystal brought passion to her work on KCD’s North SeaTac Park restoration managing a KCD WCC crew to remove harmful invasive plants and prepare the site for reforestation efforts that will improve the park’s ecosystem making it more resilient and beneficial for local wildlife.

#BestOfLuckToYou #ThankYouForYourService #MtAdamsInstitute #AmeriCorps #Forestry #UrbanForestry #WashingtonConservationCorps
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