My AP Biology teacher coordinated a Trust trip for some of us in the spring of 2016. Once I got out there and worked on the SEGA sites, I was hooked. There’s something about the dynamic that the volunteer leaders create that I really enjoy. The camaraderie between people working towards a common conservation goal is hard to beat.
I grew up in Utah, so it’s always been a place my family and I go to explore and enjoy. That has increased exponentially since we moved to Flagstaff. It is such a uniquely diverse place, both environmentally and culturally, and every time I go on an adventure, I come away with a whole new perspective.
I’ve really enjoyed working with SEGA. I think that they are doing incredibly important work, both when it comes to climate change research and getting students involved in field work. The people we’ve met from the Trust and SEGA are always teaching me something new about the environment and my place in it.
On my most recent volunteer trip, we hiked Cathedral Wash. When we finally got to the river, we all jumped in the ice-cold water. That moment was pure joy. Standing in the Colorado River with a group of people that care about this place as much I do, looking up at the perfectly blue sky as your feet freeze off, that’s one of my favorite memories of all time.
Fun facts:
I love to travel, be it 40 minutes or 40 hours away. And when I travel, my favorite thing to experience is local food. I really think that food is the best way to experience a culture.
Teddy Roosevelt. Now there’s a president who saw the value in conservation. He really laid the foundation for 20th century environmental movements that gave us all of the wonderful protected places we have today.