{"id":67919,"date":"2016-03-16T09:57:58","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T16:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/?p=67919"},"modified":"2016-03-16T09:57:58","modified_gmt":"2016-03-16T16:57:58","slug":"two-years-an-intern-now-on-to-ice-cream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/?p=67919","title":{"rendered":"Two Years an Intern: Now On to Ice Cream"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cattle Point Lighthouse part of the San Juan Islands National Monument<\/p><\/div>\n

Hello CLM folks! I hope this message finds you well and warm wherever you may be. This is my final post as a CLM intern (at least in the foreseeable future, never say never). For the last two years, I have worked for the San Juan Islands National Monument in Washington State. It has been a deeply rewarding experience, one that has allowed me to learn and grow more than I could ever imagine.<\/p>\n

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Vegetation Monitoring at Point Colville, Lopez Island, San Juan Island National Monument<\/p><\/div>\n

During my time there, I\u2019ve handled three projects for the monument: creating baseline vegetation monitoring system, starting a Seeds of Success program, and producing a map characterizing vegetative communities.\u00a0 My mentors have always given me a great deal of independence in my work.\u00a0 This opportunity for initiative has allowed me to put all my creativity and passion into projects to achieve more than expected. I have collaborated with other community organizations and land managers, presented in meetings, taught science and monitoring to kids, and tabled at many events to teach the public about the importance of our native plant community and the Seeds of Success program.<\/p>\n

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Eriophyllum lanatum<\/em>, a common coastal prairie species, was collected for SOS in summer 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

I was constantly learning during the last two years. From familiarizing myself with area botany to figuring how to communicate science to kids without boring them half to sleep, each day gave me something to think about. During my first year, I studied various BLM monitoring strategies, GIS and other data standards, and available plant related GIS datasets.\u00a0 My second year, I learned all about Seeds of Success.\u00a0 I worked with other land managers, met potential growers, created a target plant lists, and planned the collection season.\u00a0 I even had my own intern to help me collect seed.\u00a0 My second year taught me some invaluable lessons about communication, time management, partnership, and botany.<\/p>\n

After my SOS summer, I moved to Seattle and started working remotely to create a vegetation map for the monument.\u00a0 The map used information that I collected in my first season to give an accurate picture of plant communities on its 970 acres for the monument\u2019s resource management plan.\u00a0 It also allowed me to see a project to its completion, which, I gotta say, is very satisfying.\u00a0 Working from home created its own challenges however.\u00a0 I had to perfect my phone meeting, phone call, and email skills.\u00a0 It also forced me adopt a higher level of organization to get all tasks done in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

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Sisyrinchium angustifolium<\/em> collected for SOS 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

Of course, CLM internships are not only about the work you accomplish but the experiences you have along the way.\u00a0 Thanks to my mentor and monument manager, I have worked with specialists throughout the Oregon\/Washington BLM and the San Juan Islands community.\u00a0 I have met all manner of plant and wildlife folks as well as facilitation, recreation, outreach, management, and GIS gurus.\u00a0 I\u2019ve gotten to travel a lot, within\u00a0Washington and in other states.\u00a0\u00a0 My favorite trip was to New Mexico for the 2015 National Native Seeds Conference.\u00a0 The dozens of talks and workshops filled my brain to bursting with info and inspiration. I got to meet so many plant passionate people, an experience that cemented my love of plant science and the plant folk.<\/p>\n

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Lomatium nudicale<\/em>, an important forage species for the federally listed Island Marble Butterfly, was collected for SOS in 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to amazing informative opportunities during my internship, I\u2019ve had lots of chances for pure fun.\u00a0 Working on an island monument, I have had my fair share of kayak and boat trips.\u00a0 I have been lucky enough to camp on beautiful remote islands and to see spots many lifelong residents don\u2019t get to visit.<\/p>\n

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Just another day’s paddle out to check out island plant populations<\/p><\/div>\n

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Plant identification on the side of a trail at Iceberg Point, Lopez Island, San Juan Islands National Monument<\/p><\/div>\n

By\u00a0far the most rewarding parts of my internship were the people I saw every day in our little office.\u00a0 The San Juan Islands National Monument has only two full time employees, Nick Teague (recreation planner) and Marcia deChadenedes (monument manager).\u00a0 Nick has been with the San Juan Islands BLM for over ten years.\u00a0 In fact he was the sole employee until 2013.\u00a0 He does incredible work for the community, spearheading innumerable projects and often acting as the interface between the public and the government.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, he does all this with unfaltering positivity and heart.\u00a0 Nick cares deeply about the land and each person he meets (I don\u2019t know how he does it).\u00a0 I have watched many a Nick Teague interaction, trying to decipher his disturbing good person-ness.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t quite solved that puzzle but I\u2019ve yet to see someone leave a conversation with Nick without a little more smile on their face and just a tad more pep in their step.<\/p>\n

The other full time actor in the monument office is Marcia deChadenedes.\u00a0 Marcia is a force to be reckoned with.\u00a0 She navigates the challenging worlds of bureaucracy and local politics with such grace and wit that sometimes I have to stop and stare.\u00a0 She constantly pushes for what\u2019s best for the entire community and landscape, redefining what it means to be a public servant.\u00a0 Partnership, understanding, and mentorship are part of her every day.\u00a0 She pushes for collaboration, fosters progressive thinking and helps others to reach their potential.\u00a0 Marcia has the ability of quiet leadership as well as leadership through surprising people with chocolate in their desks. But more than a manager,\u00a0 Marcia is of course one of the most creative silliest broads I know. \u00a0She is\u00a0as likely to tell you an hilarious tale of unthinkable mishap as to drop a piece of sage wisdom.\u00a0 I deeply appreciate her for that.\u00a0 She is a constant source of inspiration for me and I\u2019m so happy to have her as my mentor.<\/p>\n

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Lavender chip ice cream is one of my favorite flavors<\/p><\/div>\n

My time at the San Juan Islands National Monument has given me confidence and experience with plants and people.\u00a0 I have met great people and had priceless experiences.\u00a0 I\u2019ve sincerely enjoyed working with the BLM and will likely pursue a position with the federal government in the future.\u00a0 However, I
\nam leaving the monument to follow another dream of mine: botany ice cream!! That\u2019s right, I am starting a business selling ice cream at local farmers markets.\u00a0 My ice cream generally highlights some botanical; often local native plants.\u00a0 I love showcasing little known plant flavors and being able to show people plants they have seen a thousand times in\u00a0a new light.\u00a0 My ice cream includes Douglas Fir and Yerba Buena Chip (plus more universally tempting flavors like caramelized brown cow and lemon vanilla cheesecake).\u00a0 As I prepare for this new adventure, I will remember all I have learned in my time as a CLM intern.\u00a0 I am thrilled to have had this experience and excited to see what comes next.<\/p>\n

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Hello CLM folks! I hope this message finds you well and warm wherever you may be. This is my final post as a CLM intern (at least in the foreseeable future, never say never). For the last two years, I … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5936,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67919"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5936"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67919"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68035,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67919\/revisions\/68035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=67919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=67919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}