Hello, Goodbye, and Thank You!

Hello NOLS blog readers,

I don’t think I ever formally introduced myself, but I’m the one who’s been putting up many of the posts in the “Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability” category this year. Along with emptying the office compost bins, it’s one of the regular responsibilities of the NOLS Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Internship, which has been my position for the last 5 months.

I have to tell you, it’s been a blast! I’ve learned so much: How various government agencies make land management decisions; that you and I as members of the public have the right to be involved in such decisions; that NOLS works hard to protect our wilderness classrooms and minimize their carbon footprint; how to be most effective in conservation work in a place with as diverse a community as Wyoming. I’ve written curriculum, talked to students, organized community events, researched issues, and sat in on meetings with representatives from management agencies and conservation groups working at state and national levels.

Lander, Wyoming, where NOLS has its headquarters, has been a great place to live. The mountains are close, the sky is almost always blue, and the people are sincere and always ready for an outdoor adventure. So while I’m leaving for now (a brief stint leading trips in Colorado, then on to an experiential education center in North Carolina), I know I’ll be back some day.

Thank you to NOLS and the Lander community for a fantastic 5 months!

Erica Fine

ES&S Intern