I have learned so much during my brief time working with Fish and Wildlife employees. I have done a range of projects from fishing, gardening on a pollinator garden, and assisting with a bird banding demonstration. But the biggest project I have been working on is called the Abbey Brook Restoration Project in Springfield, Massachusetts. My supervisor thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for me to try, and I have loved every second of it.

As suddenly as an afternoon thunderstorm in the mountains after a morning of clear, bright skies, the summer has started and quickly almost passed. Since moving out here, I’ve been anxious for the summer – for hiking in the mountains, climbing in the Canyon, travel all around, and for all the wonderful, inspiring events and programs I’d get to be a part of. Now, almost August, it’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end. August, too, promises to be just as exciting and busy, but nearing the end of the summer months, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for the things I’ve gotten to be a part of thus far.

It has been a beautiful season, so far, here at Chimney Rock National Monument. My day begins by arriving to the office at 8am. I meet with my supervisor and the other Chimney Rock Rangers and discuss how our days went at the site, including the game plan for the day. After our meetings, around 8:45am, we take off from the office on our shuttles and arrive to the site around 9:15am. My day officially begins when I arrive at the site. I start by greeting the public at our visitor's cabin since most of our visitors are congregated in that area. Like a Visitor Center at a National Park, our Visitor Cabin operates similar. The cabin has Tour informations, merchandise, snacks, drinks, and some archaeological artifacts from the Ancestral Puebloan site.

I joined the U.S. Forest Service Urban Connections team through a stroke of good fortune. The Resource Assistant stationed in Milwaukee before me left to pursue her dream career as a wildlife rehabilitator, leaving an opportunity for me to join the USFS and Hispanic Access Foundation in our effort to connect Latinos to the outdoors.

It has been so wonderful creating a little home for myself in D.C. this winter. I’ve met so many kind people both at the National Park Service, where I spend most of my days, and at the U.S. Forest Service, where I was lucky enough to meet a few of the DC fellows after going to training in Denver with HAF USFS fellows from around the nation. I’ve also been able to get involved in many projects right from the get-go at the NPS office, which has been a great experience.

WASHINGTON – On Sunday, Oct. 14, the film “Leche y Miel” (Milk and Honey), produced in partnership with American Rivers, will make its Fourth Annual Official Latino Film and Arts Festival premiere. The festival showcases over 100 short films written, directed and/or produced by U.S. Latino filmmakers from diverse communities across the nation.

“Wow! That sounds so cool!” is the usual response I get when I tell people about my internship with the Hispanic Access Foundation and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. The conversation usually goes something like this:

Leadville, CO families celebrated Latino Conservation Week during the Mt. Elbert Family Camping Weekend in July. A coalition of conservation organizations came together to create this opportunity for members of the Leadville community to participate in a multi-generational camping experience and learn the fundamentals of trail building and restoration.

SAN DIEGO – More than 50 San Diego Latino youth and families took rods and reels this past Saturday for a fishing experience on Lake Jennings. The event held by Good Neighbor Project and Hispanic Access Foundation, taught multi-generational families basic fishing instruction, water safety, and hands-on conservation and aquatic stewardship activities.

Besides the general duties in the office, this position has given me the opportunity to participate in plenty of outdoor activities, including hikes and other educational activities with volunteer groups and the general public. These activities are key for conservation by providing the general public information about land use and getting them to fall in love with natures beauty.