A Reflection on my Internship at Oregon Wild

By Francesca Varela

 

When I first felt the spray of Tamanawas Falls rush over me, over the mossy cliff sides, the forests above, I looked up and thought—this, this is what I’m helping protect.

In two-and-a-half months interning with Oregon Wild, I’ve had the opportunity to take on a variety of tasks, from tabling at events to shepherding a hike at Tamanawas Falls. I saw, firsthand, what it’s like to work in a real office. I learned how to navigate the Oregon Wild website; how to post things, create pages, write blog posts. I helped with the Crater Lake Wilderness campaign by crafting descriptions of areas included in the proposal.

 

 

I also helped plan the 2015 Oregon Wilderness Conference. I sent out e-mails, reached out to online community calendars, put up posters around town, and compiled lists—attendees, speaker biographies, t-shirt orders, and items needed for the events. I made signs, and created a Name That Wilderness game for the Block Party, where I made sure it ran smoothly. I even wrote the welcome note for the Conference brochure.


 

I witnessed all the hard work that goes in to planning an event; the surprising slew of permits; booking the refreshments, the music, the presenters; reaching out to sponsors; compiling tents, cups, coolers, making sure you have scissors and tape; refining the schedule; advertising the event; dealing with last-minute cancellations, and audio mishaps, and little things that will inevitably go wrong; all these pieces that must come together to result in a successful event. The most rewarding part of this internship was attending the Block Party and the 2015 Oregon Wilderness Conference, where I saw all this hard work pay off. The Block Party was fun and lively, and the Wilderness Conference was incredibly inspiring.  

Throughout this internship I’ve grown in small ways—getting over my fear of driving on the big scary bridges over the Willamette!—and big ways—learning how an environmental non-profit operates, and how much I enjoy working at one. There’s no better way to learn than by doing, and by trying things yourself. The skills and experience I’ve gained from this internship will, without a doubt, help me transition into an environmental career; one where I can protect places like Tamanawas Falls, and Crater Lake, and all the wild places that I love.  

Photo Credits
Tamanawas Falls: Tula Top
Crater Lake: Jim Maloney