Meet Our Wilderness Outreach Intern Lisa

By Lisa DiNicolantonio

Hello! My name is Lisa and I am the Wilderness Outreach Intern at the Oregon Wild Portland office. In the fall, I will be heading into my final year at the University of California, Davis studying Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management. When I’m not busy advocating for or conserving wilderness, I can be found exploring the many beautiful aspects of nature, with an emphasis on Oregon this summer as I learn more about this state that is practically new to me.

Growing up in the Bay Area, with a view of Mount Diablo from my front window, my love of nature developed instantly. After exploring more areas of California, such as Lake Tahoe, Point Reyes, and the wonderful Yosemite National Park, I realized just how magical these natural places can be and what makes them so important to protect and preserve for years to come. With time, these places became so much more than pretty places with minimal amounts of concrete. Every summer, my dad and I embark upon a father/daughter backpacking trip to Yosemite to escape reality and refresh our minds for a week. From this trip, I have realized that a shared love of wilderness is a fantastic way to bond with anyone, and is an easy way to form a relationship with someone that you’ve known forever, or for just a few days. The incredible feeling of relaxation I get from disconnecting from civilization has made me extremely passionate about caring for natural resources and the multitude of benefits they have to offer. 

Being a California transplant, I had many ideas about how “green” Oregon is in comparison to California, but have quickly learned that not all of these are true. Within my first few days in Oregon, I learned that Crater Lake is the only National Park in the state, when California has 9 National Parks. I also learned that only 4% of the state of Oregon is designated as Wilderness but 15% of California has received this designation. These numbers were astounding to me, especially the Wilderness deficit and made me realize how much work there is to do in Oregon. The designation of an area as Wilderness provides it with the ultimate protection, and ensures that its beauty and resources will be maintained in their purest form.

I was super enthusiastic about working on the Crater Lake Wilderness campaign as soon as I discovered the internship opportunity, but after taking environmental policy and law courses this past quarter, my excitement grew. These courses allowed me to understand more about the policies to protect environmental resources and the amount of debate that can be associated with them. Crater Lake is an incredible place, not just to the state of Oregon, but the entire nation and I hope to help it get the designation and recognition it deserves. 

This summer, I am looking forward to learning more about the wonderful state of Oregon and strengthen my knowledge of the wildlands, wildlife, and waters of the state. The scenery of California is very different from Oregon and I am excited to expose myself to new sites and wonders. I know that spending time getting to know everyone involved with Oregon Wild will help guide me in the right direction in terms of nature exploration, and will ensure that I am able to make the most of my summer in Oregon.