This summer I interned with the USDA Forest Service National Partnership Office as a William A. Demmer Scholar with funding from the National Forest Foundation. I secured the internship because one of my professors at Michigan State University referred a class to me about natural resources advocacy and I jumped at the opportunity. It turned out that Mark Rey, the former Undersecretary for Agriculture and Natural Resources, taught the class! Luckily, I earned a 4.0 in the class and was invited to participate in his summer course in Washington DC on federal policy in the natural resources arena.
Each student attended the class one night a week and interned full-time for a federal agency, non-profit or trade association. Due to my love of National Forests and the outdoors, as well as my origins from the heavily wooded Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I was placed with the Forest Service. To be honest, I really didn’t know much about the Forest Service since my area of study was Comparative Cultures and Politics, with a specialization in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy.
However, I quickly became enthralled by the mission of the Forest Service to serve the greater good. It didn’t hurt that I had a soft spot for Smokey Bear; on the way to my grandparent’s house in Escanaba, I would always watch for as a child!
Over the course of the summer, I assisted with reinvigorating the YouthGO.govwebsite, which aims to engage youth in outdoor events, educational and employment opportunities. I also participated in many Forest Service events including, but certainly not limited to, the Outdoor Nation Summit, construction of the USDA Folk life Festival exhibit, becoming Smokey Bear, lunch with Secretary Vilsack’s Chief of Staff, the Length of Service Award Ceremony, countless webinars and my favorite, Take a Kid Fishing Day! I assisted with rigging lines, educating kids on best fishing practices and a whole lot of worm wrangling. Several kids were able to hook a fish and I even caught one by accident!
During my internship, I began to appreciate the Forest Service more and more. I learned how thoughtful forest stewardship ensures quality forests for recreation and healthy habitats for plants and animals. Learning and working with a diverse group of individuals, I will certainly take the Forest Service ideals and commitment to public service with me in my career as I start an internship with a Forest Service partner,Sustainable Northwest!
