Field Program

Coming out to Montana was something I’d never truly dreamed of. Even in my years of studying conservation and focusing on wetlands, I suppose I never truly knew what I was expecting to do. All I knew was that I wanted to make an impact. I wanted to play a role in bettering the environment and protecting the environment, not just the "charismatic" ecosystems and species, but all of the overlooked places too. When I found out about MCC after weeks of vacantly scrolling through jobs (most of which I was barely qualified for), I felt a sense of hope take root in me. When I was hired, I let that hope bloom into excitement. I had found my way to make a difference, even if I was not entirely sure how that would work until recently.

Now here I am, just days after my first hitch with Crew 7, and all the excitement is still there. It's hard, dirty work, but it is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done. There’s such an eagerness in me and the others I have worked with so far to learn and jump right into making a difference in the environment. It's satisfaction in its purest form to know that the work we do is making a real difference, even if for now just in one singular location. I can only imagine how wonderful I will feel by the end of the season when I am able to look back and think of all the work I have done and know that the time and energy I have invested have brought about a change that is far larger than myself.