One of My Best Decisions Yet

Deciding to join a conservation corps can be an intimidating thing.

There are many questions and unknowns:

• Can I be away from home for a long period of time?
• Can I live with 5 other people for that time?
• What do we eat?
• Do I have to learn to forage?
• Where am I going?
• Just how much hiking is there exactly?
• What am I doing?
• How do I use the bathroom in the woods!?
• Do I have what it takes?

All of these questions and more bombarded me as I prepared for my first fall season as a Crew Leader. After many adventures, and challenges, I can confidently say WisCorps has answered every question I had and has unveiled some unknowns I didn’t know about myself. After three field seasons, I’ve learned more about conservation than I ever knew to ask. Joining WisCorps has been the best decision I’ve made for myself in a long time.

Crew Leader Training

Having no background in conservation prior to WisCorps, I felt very anxious to lead a crew of members into the wild places of the Upper Midwest. Amazingly, this organization embraced my skillsets and equipped me throughout my Crew Leader Training. All leaders go through multiple weeks of classes and courses designed to prepare us for anything we may face while serving on projects. Some highlights include learning to hypo wrap a hypothermic person in NOLS Wilderness First Aid, dismantling, reassembling and operating a chainsaw in Forest Safety Instruction, LLC Chainsaw Safety courses, receiving a passing score on the WDATCP herbicide exam, and yes, digging your very own luxury cathole during the Leave No Trace certification. All of these excellent experiences equated a new level of confidence in my abilities and skills as we launched into field service.

Field Season

Out in the field, the fun continues! As a Crew Leader, I’ve have countless opportunities to meet and work closely with project partners.  This has one of the greatest benefits of the position, as it has allowed me to learn about career opportunities within the conservation industry. From the many wonderful and varied project partners with National Park Service to non-profit biologists, everyone offers a wealth of diverse knowledge and experiences. Traveling from one corner of Wisconsin to the next, has afforded many opportunities to meet and connect with amazing people who work diligently to preserve and protect our natural resources. As I learned from these professionals, I began to learn more about myself and where I may fit into the tapestry of Conservation.

As a Crew Leader I now have boots on the ground experience digging new tread using hand tools, applying herbicide to fields of exotic and invasive plant species, carpentry skills for how to build boardwalks over wetlands, and technique on how to use a chainsaw. Lots of chainsaw. These experiences are very rewarding and have ingrained valuable skills I can take with me after I complete my term of service.

Leading a crew is not always sunshine and rainbows, in fact it may downpour torrentially for days on end! Facing challenges and overcoming them has been another great aspect of being a Crew Leader. Things will not go perfectly but being able to roll with the difficult realities of leadership and being in the woods for an extended time have made me more confident and sure of my ability to overcome and adapt. Each new challenge taught me something new. Even after a single season of WisCorps you can expect to be changed in some way and prepared to work in the conservation industry.

The time I have spent as a Crew Leader with WisCorps has been truly invaluable.

Before these three seasons, I had many questions about conservation, and now I feel those questions have been answered. I am equipped and ready for whatever comes next. All the time spent out in the wonderful areas of Wisconsin have built my confidence, connected me with working professionals in this career field, brought me closer to understanding myself, and revealed what I want to do with the rest of my life.