“I am very thankful for the many conversations, experiences, obstacles, and accomplishments that I have been a part of here during the program. From interacting with the public on a daily basis, to cleaning composting toilets, I have learned a lot and could not have asked for a better experience to start my life after college.”

“I’ve always enjoyed looking at the world through a creative lens. I don’t believe in the “Black & White”; almost everything in nature is complex and nuanced.”

“It feels as though it was just yesterday that we were a group of strangers all standing behind the SLA awkwardly introducing ourselves and getting to know one another.”

“When it comes to moths, the attitude turns to pity for a dull-colored insect that flutters around chasing the light life. Or that moths are arcane, eerie creatures inspiring mystical beasts like Moth Man in the hills of West Virginia. While moths have a spooky atmosphere, their importance and magnificence are worth beholding.”

“Fear is something we all know and have experienced whether we share the same culture or not. It prevents us from growing and becoming who we truly are.”

“Every morning and evening, a quick walk to the water usually has me seeing herons, loons, and many ducks, along with gorgeous wildflowers and tasty blueberries on the walk there. Now as amazing as this has been, not all of my bird encounters while at SLCS have been overwhelmingly positive.”

“The night before my first of five frog exploration programs I had a nightmare.”

“… [A]ll those who come enjoy this place have inherited the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the landscape by interacting with it respectfully. After all, our conservation is a community endeavor. It truly takes a village, as they say.”

“It is more important than ever, following a year spent indoors, isolated, and in front of a screen, that our youth have every opportunity to get outside, be in clean, safe, and natural environments, and live their lives away from the virtual ones they have grown accustomed to. AmeriCorps has helped me do this, and Camp Hale has made it possible for Boston youth to do the same.”

“To me, service is about helping those who are in need, not for the sake of seeking something in return or some favor later down the road; but just helping because it is the right thing to do. The natural world is an entity that is in need. It has a voice that has been suppressed for centuries, it is often overlooked and ignored. Who is listening to the planet, the aquifer, the forests, the ecosystems?”