My time with the LRCC and the White Mountain Trail Collective has certainly been a large learning experience. Good times and not so great times have been had, and I’ve formed memories that will be with me for a long time. Even if much of the time I was tired and ready for the day to be over, I am grateful that the LRCC gave me a chance to serve and gain experience in the world of conservation.
I will admit that at times it was a struggle to remind myself of how maintaining hiking trails would eventually help in my goal of becoming an underwater explorer. I have had to force myself to think in fairly broad terms and practice patience daily. Time will tell if these efforts pay off, but I am confident that they will at some point, even if that’s not in the near future. The general core principles of conservation are still being practiced, just not in the ways that I have the most experience with. I have always prided myself on being a patient person, but my time here in New Hampshire has revealed to me just how impatient I can be, and that I always have more room to grow. That learned patience can be applied in several different ways like staying content in a situation I may not be thrilled about, dealing with people that I don’t naturally get along with, and telling myself that the hard times will not last for long. These lessons can be applied to so many facets of life, and I know that I will use them in the future.
I am not trying to be a downer about my time here, as there were some enjoyable times too. The events where we were able to serve alongside other host sites were definite high points even if they were few and far between, and the occasional view from a mountaintop has given me some great photos. I have also been working on an independent project trying to quantify how much trail work can actually cost to accomplish, so I hope that by the time that is wrapped up that something concrete and helpful will result from my efforts. At the very least this whole experience with AmeriCorps has provided a more diverse work history for myself, and I pray that it will make me a more desirable job candidate in the near future.
While trail maintenance can certainly be a fulfilling time for many people, I have discovered that it is not a career that I would want to partake in for an extended period of time. This five month stint has been a great period for discovering that, and learning what I do not what to do is just as valuable as knowing what I do want to do. I am excited to take what I’ve learned while serving here and use it to help myself be a better employee, friend, and person in the future. Thank you, LRCC!
Todd is working on an independent project for White Mountain Trail Collective as part of an internship requirement for his MPS degree in Exploration Science, which he will be completing this December. Learn more about Todd here!