Into the great wide open
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open
A rebel without a clue

I’m beginning a new chapter in my life, and Tom Petty keeps floating through my head. The future really does feel wide open. After 16 months working with Carol Dawson and Peter Gordon at the BLM Colorado State Office in Denver, I’m selling my furniture and preparing to pack up my little RAV4 and move across the country. It’s similar to what I did a year and a bit ago, but more terrifying because I don’t have a job lined up for when I arrive.

I’m incredibly excited and ready for a change, but will also be very sad to leave Denver. The people I have met here and the experiences I have had have been wonderful. This internship has allowed me to learn so much about what the BLM does and how they do it, and as a result I have gained a lot of respect for the difficult decisions the Bureau makes. I have met passionate people who truly care about what they are doing, and have been able to participate in a variety of interesting projects. Whether I end up in federal service is still very much up in the air, but I have certainly gained a greater understanding of what such a career could entail.

Beyond the many things I learned about the botany of Colorado and how to effectively monitor a plant population, I also learned a great deal about myself during this internship. Initially, I learned that I could move to a new city and make a life for myself, in the process making wonderful friends and exploring a really fun and beautiful place. That first summer, to my surprise, I ended up living by myself. While terrifying at first, I rose to the occasion and ended up really enjoying the freedom that gave me. I learned about working an 8-4:30 job, waking up at the same time and getting myself to the same office every day. This became increasingly difficult during the winter when we didn’t have fieldwork to distract ourselves with, but I still managed, and I think I’m better for the experience. Finally, I learned about the transition to adulthood. While I still feel like a “freshman in real life,” it’s not so strange to me that I didn’t go back to school this fall.

Overall this has truly been a great experience for me, and I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with (thanks Carol, Peter, and Darnisha!). And so, as I say goodbye to Colorado, to my friends, and to my coworkers – remember, I will miss you!

Sama Winder
BLM CO State Office

The BLM in Cedar City Utah has given me many opportunities to learn about the diversity of work that is available. Recently I was able to attend Biomass Days in Beaver Utah. This event was gave me a chance to see firsthand the tools and equipment that is being used to combat Pinion/Juniper encroachment. There were also many speakers that discussed the exciting prospects of Bio-Char a product that is made from burning P/J without oxygen. This new product is very promising! There are multiple uses for it Bio-Char, it can be added to mulch and fertilizers as well as being compressed into pellets to be sold as charcoal. Some of the equipment that was demonstrated was the Bull hog, wood chipper, wood chip sorter, and bagging machine. I am also still monitoring the sage grouse in the area using radio telemetry, which I am becoming an expert at.

Wood chip sorter

I had an argument with a coworker this past week. The issue was not really anything of great importance, but a result of the fatigue and irritability that can result from field work. This event lead me to examine some specific considerations surrounding my current and future employment as a field biologist. Field work has a certain set of demands infrequently experienced in other work environments. One obvious, yet significant, aspect of field work is the outdoor environment. Local climate and inclement weather can cause general physical discomfort. Physical discomfort often leads to a negative emotional response. I have learned that my patience and composure are tried by the relentless heat I’ve experienced this summer. I have learned to be aware of shifts in my temperament caused by the heat. I know that I cannot prevent the physical discomfort, therefore the only thing under my control is my emotional response to it.

A second aspect of field work is working closely with the same person/group of people daily. Under these circumstances individuals rapidly get to know each other. We learn to get along almost out of necessity, in order to get the work done, but also to make the experience pleasant for everyone. I think that confrontation will inevitable arise during this process. Individuals of a team must voice their concerns or feelings to make others aware of them if they have been offended or are feeling uncomfortable. The key in this situation is to speak up early, thus to prevent the build up of resentment or grudges. I’m glad this internship has provided me with the opportunity to grow in personal and emotional wisdom as well as botanical and scientific knowledge. Thanks CLM!

Site for milkweed seed collection

Here in Carson City we’ve been staying very busy this field season. We’ve been doing a wide variety of projects, but most recently we’ve been doing many seed collections. We were scouting and collecting on the east side of the Pine Nut Mountains last week, and camping there at night! Our group successfully made about 20 collections, including Woods’ rose, fourwing saltbush, milkweed, and scabland penstemon. It was a great and productive trip. I really enjoy the field work we do because we get to go to  so many remote places that we wouldn’t otherwise see!