When someone asks me what I do here at the SLA, it can be difficult to think of where to even start. On any given day, I can expect to be doing one of a whole assortment of tasks like monitoring the water quality of Squam Lake, building and maintaining trails in the area, leading a bird walk, hosting and managing campsites on the islands, carrying out data analyses, doing some basic carpentry to improve the campus, helping restore shoreline, scuba diving to remove invasive species, and so much more. But this wide variety of duties is probably my favorite part of the position. All these different endeavors are meaningful and satisfying in their own ways, and they help ensure that my time here never gets stale.
I think some of the most fun and meaningful projects I’ve been a part of are the hands-on conservation initiatives. It’s incredibly gratifying to scuba dive to remove invasive variable milfoil and see an area that had once been a total monoculture now have room for new plants to grow. Working on moving a path that was collapsing into Squam Lake was also really fulfilling, as we were able to help prevent erosion and runoff into the lake, and we also planted native species that will further strengthen the shoreline and attract native wildlife like birds, insects, and small mammals. It’s exciting to look at the Squam Lakes watershed management plan to reflect on everything we’ve done and to see what’s in store for the future.
Though that conservation work is probably my favorite part of the position, carrying out everyday tasks to help keep operations running smoothly is a great way to mix things up. I’ve learned how to use more tools here than I ever could have imagined. On any given day, you’ll probably find someone changing the oil filter and spark plugs on a boat engine, doing some basic carpentry on a bench or boat, or building some bird houses. It’s a nice feeling going from having to throw away an old or broken item to wanting to find a way to repair or maintain it and use it for several more years.
Another big chunk of our time is spent interacting with the public on and around Squam Lake. This might happen while carrying out one of our public Adventure Ecology education programs, checking in campers out on the islands, or doing trail maintenance around Squam. I like to think these interactions are insightful for both parties, as we let the public know what we’ve been up to or provide some education about ecology, and they let us know how they feel about our initiatives and about any problems or improvements they’ve seen throughout the watershed. They end up serving as both educational and constructive conversations.
I always find it interesting that when I ask someone I’ve just met to tell me about themselves, the first thing that they bring up is their occupation. It makes sense, as most people spend 40 or more hours a week doing the same set of tasks. I used to answer the same way too when I was a software engineer. But now after having been at the SLA for the better part of a year, I think I’ll probably answer a bit differently. Not only is it difficult to briefly describe this position due to the wide range of duties we have, but all those duties have introduced me to so many new interests and hobbies that I like to think about myself from a different perspective than I used to. “Hi, I’m Daniel. I really like birds and scuba diving. I think hiking in the snow is a blast, and I just learned how to drive commercial boats. Pleased to meet ya.”
Daniel is a full-timer who has been at the SLA since November. We’re excited to announce that he has decided to stay on at the SLA for another 2 months after his current term ends in August! Learn more abut Daniel here.