I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to take part in the CLM internship and work for the Burns District Bureau of Land Management.

Not only has my knowledge of land management and conservation increased ten-fold, but I now better understand what it is like to work for a federal agency. In regards to skills, I now know how to better operate a GPS, ID flora and fauna of the West, make maps on ArcGIS, navigate rough terrain, conduct Step-Point and Pace 180 vegetation surveys, conduct Multiple Indicator Monitoring on streams and riparian areas, understand rangeland health management, and comprehend and write a cumulative impacts analysis for a NEPA document.

Being immersed in both a different culture and professional work environment was both challenging and rewarding. I learned how to interact with a variety of people with different environmental experiences and, consequently expanded my opinions and perspectives of environmental issues. I feel more rounded and informed on environmental topics and I know I can make better conservation and land management decisions from my time at the Burns BLM.

I am going to sorely miss all of my Burns BLM coworkers- for all of the laughs we shared and for truly making me feel welcome- I cannot thank them enough for that.

And thank you to Krissa and Rebecca and all of the other CLM folk, for setting up such a beneficial internship program for recent graduates!

Megan Hoff
Burns District BLM

Jessica and me hiking at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument! I’m going to miss my fellow CLM coworkers!

Living on the farm was also one of the most memorable aspects of this summer.