WILD ROCKIES

September 2023 Newsletter

Rollin' on the River

A UM Environmental Studies Class

Joins WRFI on the Clark Fork River

Last week, we had the honor of taking a University of Montana Environmental Studies class out on the Clark Fork River to talk environmental justice, native bird + fish species, how to navigate a rapid, and more! The issues our communities in Montana are facing - water and air pollution, species extinctions, corporate accountability, Indigenous sovereignty, climate change, and beyond - are one and the same with environmental issues we see around the world. We strive to inform students about these wide-ranging issues and encourage them to use their voices to implement change. Thank you to all who joined - we can't wait to see how you use your voices!

"Moving at the pace of flowing water - sharing about the things I love most - what better way to spend a late summer evening?"

-Jessie Cubberly, Field Education Coordinator and Instructor

Alumni Update + Employment Opportunity:

Rachel McKay, US Forest Service

Rachel McKay wants to spend as much time outside as possible. This was a motivating factor for her joining a WRFI course in spring of 2021 - Colorado Plateau - and it continues to motivate her in the role of Youth Conservation Corps Leader for the Forest Service in the Trout Creek region of Montana. For the past three years, Rachel has been directing groups of high school students through a variety of projects that can keep her in the woods up to 70% of the time. She described it to us as her dream job and spoke highly of her coworkers and the projects they participate in.

The best part? She wants you to join her! The Forest Service will be opening applications for a variety of roles, in a variety of locations, beginning on October 19th. The link will become live that morning on www.usajobs.gov.

Rachel's top 3 tips for applying include:

1.Pick a field that you're passionate about, but also make sure to check which field areas offer employee housing if that's a concern for you.

2.Be career-minded when choosing a position to apply for. Which roles might lead to something you'd like to do for an extended period of time?

3.If you don't have a preference for where you'd like to live, choose the "location negotiable" option for the role you're applying for and the Forest Service will send you where they need you!

If you have any questions, Rachel has graciously offered to answer them! Please reach out to her at rachel.mckay@usda.gov.

More About USDA Forest Service

In addition to the wide-ranging roles Rachel alerted us to, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana is hiring a number of permanent seasonal roles. The application period begins on October 19th and is open until November 22nd, but you can follow the link below to learn more about what they're offering until that time. Please reach out to us (wrfi@wrfi.net) if you have questions about these roles!