Life in the Wildlands

As a current employee of the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and a former intern and crew member, Ray Barerra shares how the organization provides an exceptional foundation for anyone pursuing a career in conservation. Through hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, and a commitment to environmental stewardship, SCA equips individuals with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the conservation field. Ray explains how SCA truly stands out as a pivotal stepping stone for building a successful career dedicated to conservation. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In the latest podcast episode, Bobbie Scopa opens up about her journey as a transgender firefighter. She reveals how her career in firefighting began, discusses the challenges she faced before and after transitioning, and recounts incredible firefighting stories.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In this episode, Tonee Davis shares her inspiring journey from starting a career in forestry to transitioning into recreation with the Forest Service. Now an Urban Connections Coordinator, Tonee focuses on introducing urban youth to the wonders of nature and the importance of conservation. Join us as we explore how Tonee is making a difference in the lives of young people and the future of our natural world. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In this episode, Kelly Martin talks about her career in wildland fire and how being a woman defined her career path. She discusses how W TREX training creates a community for women in wildland fire allowing more women to enter the field confidently. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Sasha Travaglio is an interpretive park ranger with the National Park Service and in this episode she tells us how she started her career and gives advice to those who are interested in the field. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Kristine Koran recently served as the Trails Project Manager for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and shares how she started her career in wilderness and trails for the Forest Service and how it led to current position with a nonprofit organization. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Will Arrant has been interested in & involved with fire since he was a teenager. He has a disability that has him wheelchair-bound but he has found a way to engage in his passion to be involved with wildland fire. Listen in to hear more about his story and how physical limitations don't exclude folks from working for a good cause, even if it is wildland firefighting! For more information on the federal hiring process, call us at (406) 848-1660 or email info@lifeinthewildlands.org. We are here to help you pursue your conservation career! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Retired wildland firefighter, Riva Duncan, shares the challenges of being a woman in fire, what kept her inspired, and what she is currently doing to pave the way for the future of fire with the Grassroots Wildland Fire organization. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Tracy Anderson, a retired Forest Service land steward, shares her stories of her long, rewarding career and advice for those pursuing a career in conservation. She has a broad range of experience having worked in all of the Forest Service regions except Region 2. Her primary emphasis was managing large and small timber sale programs and leading National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) teams on a variety of resource projects. In addition to her timber and NEPA experience, Anderson has also worked as a firefighter, sale administrator, forest service representative, recreation planner, senior program manager (SCSEP) and as an initial attack and expanded dispatcher for fire. She also served as an Acting District Ranger on the Lassen National Forest. For more information on the federal hiring process, call us at (406) 848-1660 or email info@lifeinthewildlands.org. We are here to help you pursue your conservation career! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In this episode, Forest Service Landscape Architect Issac Sims explains what a forest landscape architect does, the importance this role has on forest management, and provides advice on how to pursue this career field. For more information on outdoor conservation careers, career counseling or federal resume development, contact Life in the Wildlands at info@lifeinthewildlands.org or call (406) 848-1660. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In this episode, Kaleena shares how she started her career in the Forest Service Apprenticeship Program and what it takes to gain an entry-level wildland fire position. For more information on how Life in the Wildlands can help you achieve your outdoor dream job, visit us at www.lifeinthewildlands.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/life-in-the-wildlands/support

In this episode, I share different outdoor careers that are available in conservation careers with the federal government with my son, Skyler Shufelt. He learns all of the interesting and fun things a variety of the jobs get to perform he wants to pursue an outdoor career in the future. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Adam Leidy takes us through how his military experience helped him reach his career with the Forest Service. Since our interview, Adam was able to get his dream job as a Recreation Officer! It's worth a listen! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Moose has been internationally active in the outdoors for more than 30 years as an instructor, guide and responder. Currently based in Yosemite National Park, he is the senior project director for NatureBridge, the largest provider of Environmental Education in the US National Park system. He has a long history of working in Search and Rescue and is a senior trainer for the National Park Service. Today he shares more details of what he does and a few examples of experiences that make it all worth such a fulfilling career. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Joe Chow from the Mendocino National Forest discusses the job duties of an Aquatics Biologist, how he got started in his career and provides advice on how to pursue a biology career in the Forest Service. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

What exactly does a Recreation Technician do? Sereena King explains toilets, trash and educating forest visitors, skills that she wouldn't have otherwise acquired, and why she loves this job. It's a fun job, but someone has to do it! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Katie Glick talks about how she started an outdoor career with the Forest Service, shares inspiring stories, and provides advice for those that are seeking a position with the federal government. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Jesse Plummer shares how fuels management promotes forest health, reduces fire severity and potentially helps to protect rural communities. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Kean Strusis, former Youth Conservation Corps and American Conservation Experience Volunteer, shares how these experiences led him to paid position with the Forest Service. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Chelsea Morgan, a Botany & Range Specialist with the Forest Service, discusses the responsibilities of her position, her long journey to permanent employment and provides advice for those seeking a career with the Forest Service. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Nelson Mills, Forester with the US Forest Service, explains why being a forester is the perfect conservation job for those that like to work outside and why now is the perfect time to apply, shares how his military experience has helped him in his career development and provides secrets of the trade to obtaining this type of outdoor career. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Why is working a job in the outdoors so great? Join us to hear exciting stories from outdoor professionals, advice on how to navigate towards an outdoor job with a federal land management agency and learn more about the existing outdoor career opportunities that are available. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Cecilia Reed shares what it is to be a Winter Sports Specialist, the skills she's acquired in her outdoor career, and provides advice for those seeking an outdoor career with the Forest Service. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support

Tony Cortez discusses why he started working as a volunteer in Wilderness, his most memorable experience, and why being a wilderness steward is important to ensure we maintain these lands for future generations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/life-in-the-wildlands/support