The 2015 AmeriCorps Internships with the Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork Program are rapidly coming to a close. And I have thoroughly enjoyed the last ten months as an Archaeological Technician Intern. Even as I am still sitting here in front of my computer at the Forest Service office in Joseph with two weeks left, I am already feeling a strong sense of nostalgia for the place.
…Wishing I could go back- at least by a few months- to the summer field season, when the office was hopping with seasonal employees busy at their trades.
Assisting Rick McClure with a Facilities Analysis Project, Photo by Rick McClure, USFS
…Back to when there seemed to be no end to the long days in the field- enjoying the range, enjoying the forest, doing archaeology surveys and research, meeting visitors and ranchers, and interacting with locals and tourists as a representative of the Forest Service!
Photo by Anthony King, USFS
This internship has been an even MORE valuable experience than I expected when I first applied.
I have learned many valuable skills related to the field of archaeology which- along with my degree- will make me a strong applicant for future positions in Archaeology. While working here during the spring and fall I have learned to appreciate how Forest Service functions and gets things done outside of the field season.
It is interesting to find that the Forest Service (along with many other smaller government agencies) is like the military, in that you have a tendency to run across many of the same people over the years. In this regard, I am glad to have built a network of potential future coworkers through the many collaborative surveys, meetings, classes, and in-office cross-trainings I have had a chance to do!
The cross-training aspect of this internship has been very valuable. I have enjoyed working with other “-ologists” and have appreciated the skills they have shared about their trades and about the outdoors.
I also had an opportunity to help during the Falls Creek Fire that happened in Joseph in August, by assisting with public affairs by running a “Trap Line” and acting as the public point of contact.
Helping Set Out Trail Cameras for a Wildlife Survey, Photo by Patricia Johnson, USFS
I look forward to working with the Federal Government as a seasonal employee next summer, either as an Archaeological Technician, or in another capacity. I also look forward to going back to school, working on a Graduate Certificate through Oregon State University in Sustainable Natural Resources.
Thank you Mt. Adams Institute for creating this amazing opportunity for Veterans!
