Forestry Major
Q: When
do you plan to graduate?
A: May 2003
Q: What
was your job (internship, co-op, seasonal position)?
A: Trail Crew for the United States Forest Service
Q: How long
did the position last?
A: Three months (summer 2002)
Q: What
was your title?
A: Trail
Crew
Q: Where
were you located?
A: Blacksburg Ranger District
Q: What
were your main tasks/duties?
A: To clear trails of overhanging/intruding brush, provide adequate
drainage, reinforce trails, remove hazard trees, build new trail, relocate
old trails, and build stream crossings.
Q: What
did you like most about your job/internship?
A: The people that I worked with, everyone at the Forest Service
was so friendly and helpful. Plus I got to travel all over Southwestern
Virginia and be outside.
Q: What
(if anything) did you like least about the internship?
A: Marking trails, it's really boring though I did get to see
a bear.
Q: Describe
a typical day on the job:
A: Check in at the office to receive work for the day, go to
the Work Center to collect tools and repair any damaged tools, drive
out to the assigned work area, work about 4 hours, take lunch, work
another 4-5 hours, then return to the Work Center to drop off tools,
and then report back to the office and go home.
Q: Were
you heavily supervised, or left to get things done on your own?
A: At first we had lots of supervision but after two weeks or
so we were left on our own except for checking in for any new assignments
in the morning.
Q: How did
you find out about the job/internship?
A: Oddly enough from a friend during a canoe trip in the middle
of Okefenokee Swamp.
Q: What
is your best advice for others who want to find out about co-ops/internships?
A: Search the database that Sharon Williams sets up and check
your e-mail often. There are plenty of jobs out there. If you have to,
volunteer for a job. You don't usually get paid much but it is valuable
work experience that counts.
Q: How did
you find housing (or was it arranged for you)?
A: I was able to live in Blacksburg.
Q: Did you
receive academic credit or were you paid?
A: I was paid (and it was good!).
Second Internship Experience
Q:
What was your job (internship, co-op, seasonal position)?
A:Trail Crew for Alaska State Parks
Q:
How long did the position last?
A:Three months (summer 2000)
Q:
What was your title?
A: Trail Crew
Q:
Where were you located?
A:Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Willow, Alaska
Q:
What were your main tasks/duties?
A:To clear trails of overhanging/intruding brush, maintain boardwalks
across marshes, help maintain campgrounds, and help in small building
construction.
Q:
What did you like most about your job/internship?
A:The sights and being in a new area.
Q:
What (if anything) did you like least about the internship?
A:Building outhouses. Digging seven feet down into rocky soil
never was my thing.
Q:
Describe a typical day on the job:
A:Check with the Ranger for the day's duties, collect necessary
tools, usually canoe out to the location, work for 8-10 hours or until
the task was done, and then report back to the office for the evening.
Q:
Were you heavily supervised, or left to get things done on your
own?
A:At first we had lots of supervision but after two weeks or
so we were left on our own except for checking in for any new assignments
in the morning.
Q:
How did you find out about the job/internship?
A:I did a search online for Alaska State Parks.
Q:
What is your best advice for others who want to find out about co-ops/internships?
A:Search the database that Sharon Williams sets up and check
your e-mail often. There are plenty of jobs out there. If you have to,
volunteer for a job. You don't usually get paid much but it is valuable
work experience that counts.
Q:
How did you find housing (or was it arranged for you)?
A:It was provided, a small A frame house with no running water
and a porcupine underneath.
Q:
Did you receive academic credit or were you paid?
A:I was paid a stipend of $300/month. Not nearly enough to make
a living but the work experience was priceless.
Q:
What kind of career-related experience did you gain?
A:I learned endless skills from chain sawing to trail construction
to tool maintenance. Plus working with professionals in the field of
Recreation I learned a bit about how the government works and what jobs
exist outside of this immediate area.
Q:
Were there other "perks" or privileges that you received?
A:A government vehicle was provided for local travel and travel
around the state was encouraged.and they did have some great BBQ's.
Q:
Do you plan on working for this company/agency again in the future?
A:No, but only because of the whole 24 hours of light in the
summer and 24 hours of dark in the winter in Alaska.
Q:
Are your career goals the same after your job/internship? If not,
how have they changed?
A:I really wasn't thinking of a career back then but after working
for a state agency I decided that I never wanted to work for them again.
Q:
Would you recommend this position to other students?
A:Certainly, it was a great experience and I gained a "gold star"
on my resume.
Q:
What is your best advice for students considering co-ops/internships?
A: Go for it, you can never have too much work experience and
networking can someday find you a job.