It’s almost the end of August, and that fact is astonishing to me. The ten-month AmeriCorps term came to an end a couple of days ago on the 25thof August (which incidentally was my birthday), and as a tribute, we recently had a “Celebration of Service” event. The nature of the event was self-explanatory, to celebrate all of the time and effort that we’ve put in as AmeriCorps, and all of the Lakes Region Conservation Corps members and their site managers were invited. Before an afternoon of barbequed foods and games, there was a ceremony held in the great room of the Squam Lakes Association. I was asked to give a small speech about my time here and how the program has benefitted me, and therefore I was doing a lot of reflection on my time here. That day has come and gone, however, and although I no longer have a speech to prepare for, I am still doing a great deal of reflection.
You may be wondering why you’re reading a journal that I’ve written several days after the end of my AmeriCorps term. In my reflection I’ve come to understand how much being here has meant to me, and how although it must eventually come to an end (at least in the capacity of AmeriCorps), I am not quite ready yet. I am having too much fun, and I care about the people, mountains, and lakes here too much to leave. It’s for these reason that I’ve signed up to extend my service here for a couple more months into October.
The Lakes Region Conservation Corps program has a number of different goals. One of the main goals is to develop conservationists and environmental stewards, and this is done through hands-on experience. Being here has given me the opportunity to experience so many new things. Maintaining trails, scuba diving, leading educational programs for the public, leading volunteers, working as a camp counselor, routing trail signs, program development, loon banding; the list goes on and on. These experiences have not only been fun and fulfilling, but they’re relevant in terms of professional development in the environmental and conservation fields. I know that the skills and experiences I’ve gained here will play a role in being hired when applying to jobs in the future.
Another goal of the Lakes Region Conservation Corps is to build a network of conservation professionals. I’ve developed connections on both a professional and personal level here that are stronger than I ever could have imagined. I know that these connections I’ve made will stay with me well into the future and some for the rest of my life.
As I said in my speech at the celebration of service event, this is exactly where I needed to be. I’ve learned so much, met so many new people, and gotten to immerse myself in a truly beautiful place. My experience here has been an eye-opening one, and the opportunity to serve this beautiful area with such an incredible group of people has truly been a gift. I am forever grateful for all of those who’ve made this experience possible for me.
Alex is a Midwestern native who enjoys rock-climbing, guitar-strumming, and culinary delights such as pea roll-ups (Alex's recipe: warm peas rolled up in a tortilla). You can read more about Alex here.