As a rising senior in
college the pressure to figure out what comes next after graduation is a
constant stress that tugs at the back of my mind on a daily basis—finding an
important internship for my last summer before “real life” seemed daunting.
What’s going to look good on a resume? How will the experience give me tools to
succeed later on? Am I even going to find something? These were just a few of
the anxiety filled questions I began to ask myself starting around Christmas
vacation. Let’s face it, internships go fast and college students are chomping
at the bit to find summer work that will help them find a job after graduation.
I’m not ashamed to say
that it was my dad’s idea to contact the conservancy about a summer internship.
When Associate Director Sarah Brooks said that she was willing to talk to me
about a possible internship, it was honestly a no-brainer: A) I love the Methow Valley. B) I’ve always been interested in nonprofit management and what that
might entail. And finally C) I could tell after one phone call with Sarah that
the office was going to be a great place to intern, with interesting projects
and a welcoming and friendly staff…. And thankfully I was right.
My first week at the
Conservancy, I was on invitation duty for an upcoming major donor event. My
first lesson from Sarah was the difference between a “bad pen” and a “good pen”
(ballpoint is bad). Never again will I even think about writing a formal letter
in ballpoint—Thanks Sarah!
I am now diving into the
project of expanding the “This Methow Life: A Library of Conservator
Interviews” started by Sophie Daudon, last year’s intern. The project was
created to collect recorded interviews with landowners who have conservation
easements with the Methow Conservancy. These interviews are for future
landowners to learn and hopefully understand why an easement was placed on
their land in the first place and how important it is to continue the work of
stewardship.
Going through the already
completed interviews from last summer, I’ve learned so much about the different
homestead stories in the valley. It’s amazing to hear the things people’s
ancestors did to make living in the Methow Valley possible. Along with the longtime landowners are first generation
newcomers to the valley who are so passionate and captivated by everything this
place has to offer. The passion and
commitment of this diverse community of people is both amazing and inspiring.
My first two weeks living
in the valley have been great and have shown me how truly beautiful and unique
the Methow Valley is. I have also discovered a new appreciation for the proximity of
wildlife on a daily basis. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of putting on
waders, getting into a raceway tank and feeding some wild beavers at the
Winthrop National Fish Hatchery. How many people can actually say they’ve
actually done that?
A couple times this week
I have returned to my dad’s house to find a doe lounging in the front yard. The
first time, she was fairly close to the door and was happily laying in the
grass, while I, a confused city girl, sat in my car eating my lunch hoping she
would soon let me pass to the front door. After twenty minutes I moved my car
as close to the front door as possible and then tiptoed to safety. The second
time, she (I’m assuming it was the same doe) was a little farther away so I
made a mad dash for the door dropping everything that had been in my arms in
the process. The next night, at the Conservancy’s monthly board meeting, Vice
President Richard Hart educated me on the ways of the deer and taught me that a
deer won’t attack unless there is a fawn present. Naturally, I felt stupid,
kept my mouth shut about my ridiculous standoffs with a sweet doe and soaked up
the information Richard was so nice to share with me.
