Pathways Newsletter

In the summer of 2024, one week after graduating from college with a degree in Environmental Science, I loaded up my car and headed back to Montana for another season of service with MCC. The previous summer, I had served as a Conservation Intern with the Bureau of Land Management in Lewistown, MT. I spent most of that summer either in a stream repairing and monitoring beaver dam structures or in a jet boat repairing fencing in riparian areas along the muddy banks of the Missouri River. I left the prairie that summer grateful for the confidence I gained and the skills I learned. I was sad to leave Montana’s unique landscape, but was hopeful to return in the future. 

That next summer, I was excited to be back in Montana and eager to begin my 5-month term with MCC as a Conservation Fellow with the Flathead National Forest. My career plan, at that time, was to do seasonal work for a few years to try out different natural resource roles until I found one that I loved. I knew that another term of service with MCC would be a great step in that direction, but little did I know the AmeriCorps position I was starting would lead me to my dream career and a future in the Flathead Valley. 

Early on in the season, I realized that forest management was something that I was passionate about. I sought to make the most of the summer, and instead of simply painting and GPS’ing the miles of boundary that the foresters had flagged, I wanted to know what factors determined timber sale boundaries. My mentors at the Flathead National Forest invested many hours in teaching me by sharing their knowledge about forest management, logging systems, contract specifications, and silviculture. The experience that I had that summer because of MCC was critical to beginning my career as a forester. Not only did it give me great mentors and professional connections, it helped me to land a permanent position with the Washington Department of Natural Resources only a week after my term of service had ended. 

Because I had just spent five months in an environment where my curiosity was encouraged, I felt ready to take on my responsibilities as a State Trust Lands forester. The knowledge and experience I gained from my MCC service, paired with my drive to be a well-rounded forester, helped me to thrive in my role. I quickly became the lead forester of multiple timber sales and began working on more advanced forestry duties such as preparing maps, writing timber sale documents, and administering contracts. I also participated in the DNR’s wildland firefighting program, learning about the vital role that fire plays in forest management. My time with the Washington DNR, in addition to my MCC experience, helped me get my dream job managing forests in Montana.

I’m now a forester with the Montana DNRC’s Good Neighbor Authority, partnering with federal agencies to manage and restore federal lands through shared resources. I get to continue my service in the way I know best by actively managing and restoring forest lands to create resilient forests that are vital to my community. Because of my time with MCC, I found joy and a purpose in the work that I do and a calling to be an engaged citizen and a lifelong land steward.