By Emma Sondker, AmeriCorps Team Member
Emma cutting in Judy’s Trail on the Neuman easement in Troy.
My service with AmeriCorps has taught me many skills and I got to experience several career paths. I got to work with two amazing non-profits, Palouse Land Trust and Idaho Firewise. The experience has given me invaluable knowledge for future jobs and it was a great entry into natural resources. I will never forget my first time seeing the Palouse prairie and I will always remember how wonderful it was to help private landowners and communities.
My favorite collaboration project was taking a couple members of the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas Project on the Dave Skinner Preserve to do a bumble bee survey. I learned how to catch a bumblebee, and what tools are needed. Another favorite part of my service is when I got to travel to Boise and work with the team members at Idaho Firewise demonstration garden. I also had a great time doing education events with children.
I showed second graders around Fosberg farm and we petted the resident horse. I got to take a youth camp from the University of Idaho to the Skinner Preserve for a lesson and tour of the Palouse prairie. With a cub scout troop, I got to plant native vegetation and take them on a nature walk of Idler’s Rest where we saw an owl flying through the cedar grove. I loved doing events with members of the community and helping them learn about nature.
The main part of my service was to organize and run events. I started by helping out during events to fully planning and running an event by myself. With the Neuman Conservation easement, I got to learn how to plan and build a trail with help from longtime PLT supporter and friend, Ed Krumpe.
With the collaboration of Idaho Firewise and Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps, I got to learn what it is like working on a conservation crew, the different skills they use, and how to evaluate the level of risk a home has during a wildfire. When I was at the demonstration garden in Boise, I was taught how to use a line trimmer and how to create a fire-resistant landscape. I am very grateful for the experience I have had working with Palouse Land Trust and Idaho Firewise and I look forward to continuing to use the skills I have gained in future careers.