Where Are They Now?
By BMWF Staff
Our Wilderness Internships are designed for young college-age students to gain the experience they need to continue on with their natural-resource related careers. So sadly, after three months of time with us, they move on. However, we LOVE to keep in touch and hear from them from time to time. Here we check in with a few of our past interns to hear what they’re up to now.
Jeremiah Knudsen, 2019 Wilderness Ranger Intern at Spotted Bear Ranger District
“I graduate May 1st with a degree in Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism as well as Environmental Studies and Sustainability. I got a position on a trail crew back at Spotted Bear Ranger District for the upcoming season. I am hoping to make a career with the forestry and move to Montana this summer for good, but depends on if I can get a winter gig. Thank you for such an amazing summer last year as an intern with the BMWF. I love how the foundation pairs you up with the forest service and gives you a diverse taste of what the forest service is all about. Also giving you a leg up in the application process for getting into the forest service as an employee, crazy how competitive the hiring process is! This past summer I learned so much and learned to rely on myself more, building confidence that I didn’t know was there, as I spent much of the summer in the backcountry alone, loving every second!”
Keegan Widhalm, 2017 Wilderness Conservation Corps Intern
"I graduated from the University of Montana in 2018 with a degree in Resource Conservation and was able to earn a position on the Seeley Lake Ranger District trail crew the very next summer.
My summer as a WCC intern taught me all the ins and outs of being a part of a trail crew and allowed me to become crosscut certified, work with stock, and participate in projects such as turnpike construction and trail reroutes among others which I've continued to do in my current position. Since then I've also been able to become bucking and felling certified with both crosscuts and chainsaws, work with stock even more, and participate in timber marking, and even working with explosives.
My internship with BMWF truly helped me to secure my current job as my WCC crew worked on Seeley Lake District for a hitch, and introduced me to my current supervisor. 2020 will be my second year on the Seeley Lake trail crew andI'm fortunate for the skills and experiences that BMWF gave me to help me get there."
Loren Holfeld, 2018 Wilderness Ranger Intern at Seeley Lake Ranger District
"I currently work for the Forest Service as a Forestry Technician on the Region 9 Timber Strike Team. I am based out of the Hiawatha National Forest but travel around the "Lake States". We focus on timber sale prep duties year round. I recently had my year anniversary the end of last month with the R9 TST. I just applied for a Crew Lead position on our same crew here in Gladstone, MI so fingers crossed!! I hope to continue my career in timber and eventually work my way up to a Timber Sale Administrator position in my future.
Getting my post college career started with the BMWF was a great opportunity that opened a lot of doors. Not only was it an awesome resume builder but it was a summer I'll never forget with a lot of personal growth. It has always been a goal of mine throughout college to work for the USFS but as many know, trying to get into the government system isn't always the easiest. With that said, it wouldn't have been possible with out an organization like the BMWF. My involvement with the foundation taught me the benefits of having the USFS partner with a non-profit organization such as the BMWF."
Meghan Ciupak, 2019 Wilderness Ranger Intern at Hungry Horse Ranger Disctict
"It has been a busy year at Purdue and finally getting into classes that I am really excited about! Learning about making maps using GIS and learning the intricacies of watersheds remind me of my summer in The Bob.
Last summer, I saw the passion of everyone I worked with and around the station. Being surrounded by these people gave insight and inspiration to what it is like to live the mission of the U.S. Forest Service. To be a steward to the land and servant to the people. Working with BMWF was definitely a step in the right direction into a future career in outdoor conservation and land management. This summer, I will be working with the streams crew on the Colville National Forest. I am grateful to have spent last summer taking care of The Great Bear Wilderness and meeting such a wonderful community."