Crew Culture!!

Working 10 hour days doing repetitive tasks can seem boring and hard to some, and some days it is not the most fun, but what really makes it enjoyable is the people you work with. Crew culture can make or break your season. It is the people you smile with while it rains on you, the people you sing in the car with, and the people you rely on when the going gets tough. 

Crew taking in a waterfall while treating weeds on a local trail.

I have been lucky to have a large crew on the Umpqua Nat’l Forest. I get to work with 3 USFS employees, 2 interns through the Scientists Conservation Association, 2 interns through the local community college, and of course my fellow CBG intern, Hannah. Having such a large team allows me to work with different people everyday, sharing stories, and making memories. Another plus is that everyone is from all over the United States. We cover the Southwest, Midwest, East Coast, and the Pacific Northwest. With that I have gotten to experience the cultural differences from across the U.S. It has been so interesting to hear about crab boils from Maryland or meeting people from Arizona who have never seen snow (that is crazy as a midwesterner). 

Me and my co-worker Bridget, taking a funny selfie to capture pre-work vibes

In the field it is really great to have such a large group to pull from. We each bring a different set of skills and knowledge. I have been able to learn just as much from my crew lead as I have from my co-workers. The local interns have such an impressive knowledge of the native species. They have helped me learn how to identify our collection species more quickly than I would have by myself.  One of my assistant crew leads, Bridget, comes from the Midwest with a background in invasive species management. She has really helped us be more efficient when dealing with weeds and even helps us estimate how long a treatment area may take. 

A bunch of the crew taking our ”album cover” photo

At the end of the day this crew has become a second family. We regularly hangout outside of work, and are able to be true selves with each other. When you take a field position your crew can make or break your season. So show up with a smile, open heart, and be ready to make some of the closest friends you will ever have. It makes the beauty of your surroundings shine even brighter.

Group Photo to celebrate one of our co-interns leaving for the season. Taken in front of the National forest sign

Umpqua National Forest

Emma Landenberger

Adapting to a Life with Fire

Wildfires are part of life out west. As a midwesterner this has definitely been a culture shock. The smoke that hangs in the valleys brings this ominous feeling I can’t quite shake. Meanwhile the locals do not seem fazed. As time passes I too have gotten more comfortable living surrounded by fires. Maybe it’s the constant reassurance from my crew lead or the other USFS employees sharing their experiences from years past, but slowly it’s becoming more normal. 

Smoke from nearby wildfires turns the sky red in the early evening.

In all honesty, the biggest adjustment has been working while large portions of the forest are closed. Many of our historic seed collection spots are out of reach or even burned. Initially it felt like the rug was ripped from under my feet. Time to start over. Going back out and looking for our target species, but this time without any historic data to rely on. 

My co-intern, Hannah, walks a ridge road while we were collecting Blue Wild-rye (Elymus glaucus).

Long days of driving down new roads were upon me and my co-intern. Some days were busts. We seemed to find more invasives than natives. Not the best feeling, to be honest. Soon our luck would change. We would come upon patches of meadows, they key to our success. Quickly we found forest scurf pea, western columbine, and blue wild rye. It felt like such a victory! 

The start of our seed collection filling the botany office.

As time has passed waivers to enter the closure have been approved. Finally we can hit some of those historic sites! The sheer difference in population size was astounding. I could see why the forest relies on these sites so much. Now as July comes to a close, paper bags of seeds cover the floor and the fridge is full of berries. Despite it all the work is really starting up. Hoping as summer moves along more of the forest opens up, and more seed can be safely collected. 

Emma Landenberger 

Umpqua National Forest, Oregon

The Best Type of Office

After taking this position I knew it would be hard on both my brain and my body. During the weeks leading up to my first day, I was only thinking about learning complex scientific names or the labor of pulling out invasives. I never thought to stop and think about the opportunity I was given, that nature would become my office. The hot sunny days and bug swarms leave me unbothered as I think about my break room being a riverbed, my cubicle a mountaintop, and my commute a forest lined trail. Do not be fooled, everyday is hard work (lots of sweat) but its rewarding and beautiful. I hope I can give some of my favorite spots the justice they deserve so you can enjoy them too!

Slide creek Falls:

Just a short drive in, off of OR-138 you come upon this beautiful horsetail falls. It spills into a small blue pool. The spray gives life to the moss, ferns, and other little flowers you find there. You perch yourself on the ridge as your friends work their way to a log. You break out a snack and sit in silence. Now you’re trying your hardest to take in every moment, to be able to remember every detail, to be able see it even after you leave.

Twin Lakes:

A few miles into the forest you reach a trailhead. It seems particularly normal, so you go down the 1.25 mile trail to the pair of lakes on your map. It only takes a few minutes of climbing before you reach a plateau. You look out to your right and see Mt. Bailey with her snow capped peak off in the distance. You pause, instantly feeling small. You stand there thinking it’s time for a water break, maybe more for the view than the actual need for rest. As you move on you spot a blooming trillium and a little lady bug (you have to take the time to count her spots!!). You realize how big and impactful your presence is. Further down a lean-to hints that you have reached your destination. Soon you see the lake’s crystal clear water. It only takes a few seconds before you spot your first fish. The gentle wind feels cool on your skin and all you can do is be present and smile. 

In just a couple of weeks you have visited numerous awe-inspiring places. As I continue to work and explore this national forest I try to see the beauty around every corner. Time is truly fleeting but my memories of the Umpqua will stay with me forever.

Emma Landenberger

Umpqua National Forest, OR