Ashley - Squam Lakes Association

If there’s just one thing I’ve learned since starting here at the SLA (other than to always bring work gloves and a rain jacket with me), it’s that time really flies. As I write this journal entry, I’m settling into a drizzly and comfortable evening after today’s Celebration of Service; as a time of ceremony and camaraderie, this event marks the near-end of the full-year members’ service and only about two months left of us half-year members’ service. It’s already almost September. Where did the time go?

Seeing the calendar’s empty spaces as full-timers finish their term and leave the SLA fills me with inescapable dread. Throughout the season I’ve gotten to know these lovely people: we’ve served together, camped together, and spent a good few evenings at White Oak Pond swimming and chatting until the sun sets. We’ve all relied on each other when jobs get tough or confusing. I’m going to miss them a ton—and while I know they’re all headed off to do fantastic things, it’s going to feel so bizarre seeing their empty seats at team meetings.

Watching the full-timers’ schedule blocks become empty little sad faces makes me sad, too :(

Still, I can’t help but feel proud about how far we’ve all come, and I must give credit where credit is due! The trail crew serving on Old Bridle Path, including Kaela, Eric, and Kyle, recently put in a ton of back-breaking hours to repair pieces of our most popular trail, reducing the effects of erosion and general wear. On my dive days, most of which have included Bri, hundreds of gallons of invasive variable milfoil have been removed from Squam and Little Squam. I’ve been lucky enough to shadow Nikka in leading community scientists to count caterpillars in our area, and while mutually conquering the SLA’s frighteningly large vehicles. And Paul, humble Paul, has done so much to maintain the campsites (and especially their bathrooms) so that campers have a beautiful place to stay! I really appreciate the full-timers for all the things I’ve learned from them, even in the few months I’ve been here. While it’ll be sad seeing them go, I wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

The SLA crew, celebrating our service! And looking forward to a tasty barbeque afterward.

Speaking of future endeavors… I, for one, have no idea where I’ll be going after my term at the SLA is over. I’ve been looking into more field jobs, maybe grad schools already, but I haven’t settled on anything yet. Should I do more research in animal behavior? Or pursue another temp job in conservation somewhere in the North? Maybe after my lengthy holiday break, I’ll hike into the middle of the woods somewhere and start a quaint but fruitful business in animal photography, developing the photos myself in a haphazard dark room shack… ha, just kidding. 

One thing’s for certain, though: the skills I’ve gained while serving here and the people I’ve connected with will undoubtedly contribute to my success wherever I go. Conservation work is often its own benefit; my experiences here at Squam stand out to me as some of the most fun I’ve ever had. Defending loon chicks from unaware boaters, watching the sunset after a long day of serving on the islands, and coming face to face with a massive snapping turtle while diving (and living to tell the tale) are just a few examples of these experiences. While I know I’ll still worry about the fast-approaching end of both the full-timers’ and my own term at the SLA, I can take comfort in knowing we’ve all come so far, and we’ll surely have a blast wherever we finally settle. 

A gorgeous sunset over Piper Cove, strikingly reminiscent of my first ever photo of Squam Lake.

Ashley is excited to see her White’s Tree Frog, Oracle, jump through a hoop at the LRCC talent show. Read more about Ashley here!