Mt. Adams Institute Mt. Adams Institute
  • About Us
    • Programs
      • Overview
      • VetsWork Environment
      • VetsWork GreenCorps
      • Education Programs
      • Public Lands Stewards
    • About
      • Our Mission
      • Our Impact
      • Our Staff
      • The Board
      • Lodging
      • Program Partners
    • Our Members
      • VetsWork Environment Members
      • VetsWork GreenCorps Members
      • Public Lands Stewards Members
    • Contact Us
      • Reach HQ
      • Live & Social
      • Staff Employment
  • Internships
    • VetsWork Environment
    • VetsWork Greencorps
    • Public Lands Stewards
  • Summer Camps
  • Sense of Place
    • Lecture Series
    • Hear in the Gorge Podcast
    • Dear Neighbor Project
    • Community Workshops
  • Blog
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Gift A Scholarship
    • Capital Campaign
    • Volunteer
Close
  • About Us
    • Programs
      • Overview
      • VetsWork Environment
      • VetsWork GreenCorps
      • Education Programs
      • Public Lands Stewards
    • About
      • Our Mission
      • Our Impact
      • Our Staff
      • The Board
      • Lodging
      • Program Partners
    • Our Members
      • VetsWork Environment Members
      • VetsWork GreenCorps Members
      • Public Lands Stewards Members
    • Contact Us
      • Reach HQ
      • Live & Social
      • Staff Employment
  • Internships
    • VetsWork Environment
    • VetsWork Greencorps
    • Public Lands Stewards
  • Summer Camps
  • Sense of Place
    • Lecture Series
    • Hear in the Gorge Podcast
    • Dear Neighbor Project
    • Community Workshops
  • Blog
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Gift A Scholarship
    • Capital Campaign
    • Volunteer

Upon my first trip to the Greenbrier Ranger District (GRD), I was met with a heavy snowfall that unfortunately continued throughout the first couple weeks.

As disappointing as it was, the time spent in the office provided a chance to complete necessary documents such as: required paperwork for obtaining driving licenses, setting up LincPass appointments, and scheduling GIS software installments. More importantly the inclement weather presented the opportunity to meet many of the partners working closely with GRD. Just to mention a few, Green Forest Works, Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR) and The National Resource Conservation Services (NRCS).

The continuation of the relentless snowfall, gave my supervisor a chance to brief me on current and upcoming projects. One of the major focuses of the GRD is Red Spruce ecosystem restoration, specifically on reclaimed mine land. After successfully navigating through NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), sections of the forest which are heavily populated with a non-native species, Red Pine, are respectively marked. The section is then cleared and burrowed (ripped).

The purpose of the ripping is two-fold: 1) to reduce the number of a non-native species, and 2) ripping loosens the densely compacted soil. As you may be able to see in the photo many of the trees appear small in girth considering the maturity of the trees, this is primarily caused by compacted soil. After the ripping process subsides, the land is then ready for planting native species.

‹ › ×

    Flickr Album Gallery Powered By: WP Frank

    One challenge when attempting to plant thousands of native species at a time is actually obtaining the plants. Through intense seed propagation and partners like NRCS, the GRD has been able to introduce plants deriving from the same genetical composition within the forest. This elaborate initiative requires active participation across all sectors both within the GRD and alongside partners. Playing a role in the participation I made weekly trips to NRCS greenhouse in order to prepare some of the plants that will be used this summer in restoration projects throughout the forest.

    Additionally, this past week I have been working with different disciplines throughout the district. Tasks have varied from collecting water samples, marking timber boundaries, and erecting bat houses.

    As you can see from the vast amount of partnerships, many of the projects vitally rely upon inter-agency cooperation and patience in coordinating efforts. This alone provides me a chance to satisfy one of the goals I had hoped to achieve from the internship–networking.  I look forward to the rest of the time I’ll be working with the GRD and hope to aid in accomplishing their goals for the year.

    Share

    FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest

    Leave a Reply / Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Be sure to add your name to the roster, so we can send you latest news, jobs, events and resources.

    Make a Donation

    Make a Donation

    Recent Posts

    • VetsWork: Reflecting on the Year
    • VetsWork: Full Circle
    • VetsWork: A Transformative Experience
    • VetsWork: Opportunity During a Pandemic
    • Public Lands Stewards: Learning, Growth, and Good Times

    Categories

    • Bulletin
    • Cascade Mountain School
    • Fun & Miscellaneous
    • Mountain Talk
    • Public Lands Stewards
    • VetsWork Environment
    • VetsWork Greencorps

    Check Out Instagram

    View

    Jan 14

    Open
    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.
______________________________

#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
    51 11

    View

    Apr 19

    Open
    She’s off for her school overnight trip! She handled all of her own packing and I am fully confident that means she’ll have at least 95% of the things she really needs. Girlfriend is on top of it! #urchinadventures #montessorikids #overnightfieldtrip #cascademountainschool
    33 1

    View

    Jun 13

    Open
    It's nice when the sun comes out #finallysunny #afewnicedays #vetswork #mtadamsinstitute #americorps #oregon #mttheilsen #pnw
    54 1

    View

    Aug 7

    Open
    Last week marked the end of our Mountain to Valley summer camp! For two weeks, students conducted meaningful ecological research while farming, backpacking, mountaineering, and camping. We hope that they left connected to themselves, with new skills and friends, and inspiration to become positive leaders and change makers in our world! #mtadamsinstitute #cascademountainschool #mountaintovalley #mtadams #troutlakevalley  #highschoolcamp #science #stewardship
    17 0

    View

    Aug 4

    Open
    Toad-ally in love with my job 🐸

#mtadamsinstitute
    103 4
    Load More
    • Back to Blog
    • Prev
    • Next

    Mt. Adams Institute collaborates with the following partners:

    © Copyright 2017 Mt. Adams Institute. All rights reserved.
    Mt. Adams Institute is an equal opportunity employer.
    contact us | partnership inquiries | site credit