One of my favorite adventures since leaving GEM was working as an Interpretive Park Ranger at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The park has always been a special place to me, and I would hike there often during my college years when I lived only twenty minutes away. When the park was designated a national park in 2019, it became a goal of mine to work there, so I was thrilled to have this opportunity. My favorite experience was leading ranger programs at Pinhook Bog, the only true bog in Indiana and a refuge for rare orchids and carnivorous plants. Kassie by the Indiana Dunes National Park sign. As my seasonal position with the Dunes was coming to a close, I found an opportunity at the Morton Arboretum. As a plant lover, being paid to teach people about plants was an easy decision. During my year there, I led school field trips and week-long summer camp programs. The Morton Arboretum is a world renowned arboretum, and the leadership team for the education department is amazing. I was able to learn so much from them and really honed my skills as an educator. I especially loved leading summer camp programs because I was able to take more creative liberties with my programs and spend more time getting to know the campers during our week together. Kassie with some of some of her campers at the Morton Arboretum. Most recently, I started working for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County as a Wildlife Interpreter, where I am based out of our wildlife rehabilitation center. I still teach students and the public about natural history, but with a stronger focus on local wildlife and how to reduce negative human-wildlife interactions. I occasionally help take care of our non-releasable animals that live on site, which includes raccoons, raptors, and a bobcat, and have helped release rehabilitated animals, such as opossums, doves, squirrels, and even a sandhill crane. We are currently in the process of building a new visitor center, so I've had the unique opportunity to help design the permanent displays for the new center. I'm really excited to see this project come to fruition at the end of this year. One adventure I had in this position was helping one of the staff ecologists locate endangered Blanding's turtles. We donned waders and trudged through a marsh with cattails over eight feet tall in water up to our waists. We used satellite telemetry to locate female turtles who were due to have their trackers replaced. The ecologists collect eggs from the females in the spring to temporarily raise the young turtles, giving them a headstart that significantly reduces their predation rates Kassie holding an endangered Blanding's turtle! My experience at GEM set a foundation that got me to where I am now, and I love seeing my skills grow and build on each other with each new step in my career. I feel really lucky to have had each of these opportunities, and I'm especially grateful for all of the mentors I've had along the way who have trained, encouraged, and guided me throughout this process. My current goals are to complete my Master of Science in Conservation Education at Mississippi State University by May 2025 and to continue to teach students and the public about natural history and wildlife. My long-term goal is to move into a management position where I can train and mentor early-career interpreters, so that I can support others as my many mentors have supported me. Join the GEM Corps team by checking out our available positions at:
https://www.gemenvironmental.org/hiring.html By Christopher Gillis GEM Corps Public Relations and Marketing Associate Almost every STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) )-related job requires data collection and memory recall. A common workspace (or fieldwork) practice is taking field notes. Making and keeping field notes is so commonly practiced it is often referenced in pop culture. Have you ever played the video game “Uncharted” and had to flip through Nathan Drake’s journal to discover a clue to a puzzle? Remember in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and how Dr. Henry Jones (Indy’s dad) kept a notebook full of illustrations and notes on his studies of the Holy Grail? Or what about the journal John Bunbar kept while studying the Sioux tribe in “Dances with Wolves.” These are all literary examples of field notes used to progress the plot. Field Notes are contained in a journal designated to record observations and activities someone encounters or participates in during fieldwork. Fieldwork work is done in the field (or lab) to gain practical experience and knowledge through firsthand observation. My fieldwork is a combination of real-world knowledge gained while exploring my environment, personal studies, and workshopping ideas for future projects. I have maintained a journal for Field Notes for the last four years. I took up the practice when I began working at a Paleontology museum and was required to give tours around the facility. Prehistoric animals have complicated scientific names, unique features from anatomy, strange habitats, and theorized behaviors. I was required to memorize all these facts to provide an enriching experience for visitors to the museum. By trade, I work as a content creator, taking photos, recording videos, quick write-ups, and designing graphics for social media. My Field Notes have become a vital source of inspiration when I have to create new content. Here’s an example of a page I created for the Arizona Rainbow Cactus. As a content creator for an environmentally focused workforce development nonprofit, I have to research several topics from STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) to create graphic factoids for online enrichment. My process starts with drawing the subject (to the best of my ability). Once I flush out an illustration, I will fill the surrounding blank space with facts I have learned about the subject. This note-taking process helps me focus on critical facts and retain the information for later use. You might be saying, “Well, I can’t draw.” Neither can I. Which is why I’ve included examples of my Field Notes. Getting into the practice of drawing an image while studying can significantly improve the ability to retain information. “Drawing while taking notes is a powerful memory tool. Scientists have learned drawing "requires elaboration on the meaning of the term and translating the definition to a new form (a picture)." The act of drawing and note-taking is an active way to absorb information. The practice forces “the student” to grapple with what they're learning and reconstruct it in a way that makes sense to them” (Terada, “The Science of Drawing and Memory,” Newsroom.unl.edu, https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/csmce/9972/58389#). The great benefit of maintaining a Field Notes journal for work is it can be used as a personal quick source guide for job duties. Working in the STEM field, an essential task at work is observation. Keeping notes on what is “seen” is a significant way of gathering critical data to create a conclusion (finish a project). As a content creator, I use my notes to create multimedia assets. Here’s an example of the Arizona Rainbow Cactus as a graphic factoid. All the information I’ve collected in my Field Notes works as a mental asset when on the job. Research on the topic of drawing while taking notes shows improved recall because of how the information is encoded in memory. “When a student draws a concept, they must elaborate on its meaning and semantic features, as the act of drawing (using your motor actions) and visual processing helps to cement the idea to our memory” (Terada, “The Science of Drawing and Memory,” Newsroom.unl.edu, https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/csmce/9972/58389#). During a CPR Certification class I took with Granite Mountain Training, I wanted to make sure I understood the practice of giving CPR. While the instructor showed techniques on a dummy, I would quickly illustrate the dummy and critical concepts of performing CPR. Having to perform CPR on a person is a high-stress situation, and I wanted to prepare myself as much as possible mentally. Making illustrated notes allows my mind to role-play scenarios, which helps me become more comfortable performing the task in the “real world.” Overall, keeping Field Notes is an effective tool as a quick reference source for real-world work situations or a way of helping the brain retain essential information. More examples of my Field Notes: Work Cited:
Terada, Youki. “The Science of Drawing and Memory.” University of Nebraska-Lincoln, newsroom.unl.edu/announce/csmce/9972/58389#:~:text=It%20forces%20students%20to%20grapple,information%20is%20encoded%20in%20memory. GEM Environmental is proud to welcome our newest team member! Elizabeth Reyes is our new GIS Analyst. Elizabeth is from New Jersey. Her interests are reading newspapers, gardening and traveling. Some places that she has visited are Canada, Vietnam, the Philippines and Mexico. Elizabeth feels that it is important to be an all-rounded person so one can connect with others about multiple topics. Welcome aboard Elizabeth! “STEM is an underestimated and evolving field. Learning about STEM becomes a building block for solving nature's mysteries. The world is interconnected so environmental responsibilities become vital. As STEM makes strides towards advancement, we must be willing to educate and enhance the interest in STEM. Learning new skills never stops.” -Elizabeth Reyes Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
As a staff scientist, my main focus is to create maps from the collected field data. By surveying the landscape, the data accuracy increases. Using GIS software, maps are represented as evidence to support reports. Making maps is a mixture of art and science. Without GIS, visuals can be deceiving which can confuse an audience. Other responsibilities include communicating with people of various backgrounds, writing reports and tracking project development. What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM? I hope to gain professional experience while expanding my skillset. I want to improve on leadership skills. As I look forward to meeting everyone, building a network in the STEM field provides a foundation for potential career development opportunities. Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn? I plan to pursue for further education. Currently, I have a bachelor's degree and a GIS certificate. I plan to have a master's degree in the future. Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far? I haven't had the chance of having an internship experience. I have done short term service work. Giving back to the community allows me to remain humble. Service work can change perspectives of what you had once thought of. Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields? Don't underestimate yourself and don't be afraid of going out of your comfort zone. Until you try, you won't know what you are capable of. Unlike stability, wisdom comes from growth. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH CLICK HERE. The GEM Team along with previous service member, Patrick Willoughby, went out yesterday and updated the GEM Environmental Story Walk at Acker Park. Along Tom's Trail at Acker Park, you will find a series of informational stations that are set up and maintained by our team. Ryder Moreno, our Program Coordinator and AmeriCorps Team Leader, put together an amazing selection of native birds in this area! Ryder obtained information from Jay's Bird Barn in Prescott, Arizona. For location and more information about Acker Park click here. Remember to always wear appropriate clothing and bring water while hiking. We hope you check out our story walk and enjoy one of our many local parks.
GEM Environmental and GEM Corps would like to congratulate Ashley McDonough. Ashley is now the new Vice President of GEM Environmental, NFP. On Monday, September 12th, 2022, at our quarterly Board Meeting, the Executive Director and President, Eric Welsh, nominated Ashley to fill the VP position. Wayman Trujillo motioned to approve this which was seconded by Chino Martinez, and after a unanimous vote, Ashley became the official Vice President! Ashley has worked for GEM as our GEM Corps Program Manager since June of 2021 and is a vital role to our company’s growth. Her commendable work ethic and outgoing personality make Ashley a pleasure to have on our team. Ashley became interested in this role while working alongside the President, Eric Welsh. Learning all she could about the position, Ashley felt it was a natural progression to continue to grow with the company and assist Eric to her best ability. The responsibilities of being the Vice President include maintaining strong communication amongst the staff and volunteers at GEM and making sure the team has a relaxed work environment and healthy work relationships. A strong leader is necessary to provide the tools to keep things running smoothly, and Ashley is just that! Growing up as an only child, Ashley learned to take on responsibilities at a very young age. She developed a take-charge attitude and feels that it will help her fulfill the obligations of the Vice President role. She enjoys over coming obstacles and thinking outside the box to get the job done. Her experience working with people of all demographics will help her to fulfil these obligations. With the rapid growth of GEM and GEM Corps, Ashley feels that the need to remain consistent and work side by side with our community partners, is the key to things running smoothly. She understands the challenges she will face, and is ready to deal with anything that comes her way. Ashley plans to use strong communication and team work to help her maintain highly functional relationships with her staff. “We have many different types of people that we work with; partners, team members, and AmeriCorps members, so making sure that we are all on the same page by not focusing on myself being the Vice President, but working together on our goals is my main objective.”- Ashley McDonough Once again, congratulations Ashley! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors with GEM. You are appreciated beyond words.
GEM Corps would like to welcome the newest member to our team! Isaac Sanchez is our newest Staff Scientist and New Mexico Program Coordinator. Isaac is from El Paso Tx. He has a vast interest in nature and animals. He enjoys exploring mountains, forests, and rivers while learning about the ecosystems and species native to each area. STEM education is important to Isaac because he strongly believes that those who lead in the STEM fields are the people who truly shape the future for not just humans but the Earth as a whole. Welcome aboard, Isaac! How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I found this opportunity on Indeed.com What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM? I plan to grow as both an individual and a professional and assist in locating and safely closing as many abandoned mines as possible. Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn? Yes, I plan on continuing my education to get a master's in either biology, environmental science, or geology. Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far? I had the pleasure of working with multiple professors who are active in their fields, and they have passed on to me their knowledge of fauna, flora, and rock composition which I know will greatly assist me in my duties. We look forward to keeping up with the many adventures Isaac will share along the way. Make sure to stay up to date at www.gemenvironmental.org. GEM Corps would like to welcome the newest member to our team! Allie Shedleski is our new AmeriCorps New Mexico AML Team Leader. Allie was born and raised in Maryland but has lived in Ohio, Utah, Washington, and now New Mexico! She has always enjoyed hiking and since moving out west she has taken up backpacking and rock climbing! Allie feels that STEM is essential because “it helps us understand and protect the world around us, from us”. She has a strong passion for nature and conservation. Allie is doing her part for our amazing planet and encouraging others to do the same. Welcome aboard, Allie! How did you hear about this service opportunity? Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus. I am the NM Abandoned Mine Land Team Leader, the position title does most of the explaining. I will help map abandoned mine remnants on state and federal land in New Mexico. What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM? I hope to expand as a scientist and gain field experience with GIS. Also, I hope to strengthen my leadership abilities. What are your career goals? As I move forward professionally, I would like to gain new and diverse experience in the conservation field. In hopes that it leads to a permanent position in the outdoors. Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn? I have a Bachelor of Science in Geology. At this point in time, I don't have plans to return to school. Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far? I worked with AmeriCorps for the American Conservation Experience. It was a lot of fun and challenged me physically and mentally in a lot of ways. It definitely helped me acquire professional skills that directly led to me getting a job as a Wildland Firefighter and to me securing this job as well. To learn more about AmeriCorps click here.
We recently came to the end of term for our AmeriCorps VISTA and Program Coordinator, Kassie Henrikson. Kassie spent the past year working with GEM through Arizona Serve. She was a vital part in the growth and development of GEM Corps in 2021 and 2022. We were honored to have Kassie work in many of our programs and to represent GEM as we worked throughout our community. Kassie is a very passionate person, who strives to work hard and accomplish anything she sets out to do. “What I loved most about working with GEM was the freedom and support I had to pursue whatever interested me. Whenever I came to Eric or Ashley with an idea of something I wanted to pursue, they only asked what they could do to help. I was able to participate in a large variety of programs including community science, geology lectures, and directly teaching people of all ages and developmental levels about natural history, which is what I am most passionate about. My next position is as a Park Guide at Indiana Dunes National Park in Northwest Indiana. I will be assisting park guests with planning their visits and sharing the unique qualities of this park with others. My experience at GEM helped me to gain more confidence when speaking to others about science and natural history, which is going to be a large part of my new job, so this experience was invaluable for me. My new position is temporary, so I'm not sure what I will be doing after that, but I know that the wide variety of skills I was able to gain through this experience will help me no matter what direction my career takes me moving forward.” Thank you, Kassie, for all your hard work and dedication. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. You have left a lasting impression with GEM Environmental and have set goals for all our future team members. The world is a better place because you are in it.
GEM Environmental is proud to introduce our 1st time recipient of the Robert Graves Memorial Scholarship for Veterans in STEM. Andrina Shields, the mother of Robert Graves, has partnered with GEM to award a $1,500 scholarship to Veterans in STEM fields and to share Robbie’s story to help spread Veteran Suicide Awareness throughout our community. The 2022 scholarship was awarded to Shea Prescott. Congratulations Shea! Shea is from Jacksonville, FL. He was honorably discharged from active duty in the United States Navy in 2020. He is currently serving as a SEL Reservist at 4th Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment at Blount Island, FL as an Electronic Technician 2nd Class. His interests include computer science, engineering, electronics, and the great outdoors. Shea values STEM education because humanity and the world itself is entering a technological age, and he feels that to expand and progress as a society, we need to understand and be at the forefront of these fields.
How did you hear about G.E.M. Environmental and this scholarship opportunity? STEM SCHOLARSHIP INTERNET RESEARCH Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus. I am a service member in the United States Navy and I recently concluded a deployment in the Gulf of Oman on a destroyer and transitioned from active duty to reserves to pursue a degree at Jacksonville University's Electrical Engineering program. As an Aegis Fire Controlman 2nd class deployed in 2020, I was the work center supervisor for CF03 where I was responsible for the Fire Control aegis suite for anti-air and ballistic missile defense warfare areas for my ship. The technical training I received while serving in the United States Navy gave me the electrical background and theory to repair and conduct maintenance on sophisticated AEGIS BMD radars and illuminators. These skills provided me the foundation to pursue my electrical engineering degree at Jacksonville University. The primary mission of my ship was Ballistic Missile Defense and as a Missile System Supervisor. I operated the console in charge of final release of ordnance for air and BMD tracks that were threats to our nation and allies. If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success? The United States Navy has instilled in me the drive to succeed in my mission and the fortitude to finish the task at hand. My dream and aspiration is to achieve this degree in order to be employed by the Missile Defense Agency so that I may continue protecting our nation from ballistic missile threats on the homeland as a civilian. I've seen firsthand how sophisticated and advanced the potential destructive capabilities of inter-ballistic missiles can be. The importance of STEM related fields such as Electrical Engineering would give me the skills required to be on the forefront of our nation's defense and Patriot program. Tell us what this scholarship means to you. The military benefits for being a service member does not pay for all of my expenses, especially for books, labs, and other school supplies. This scholarship will provide me with the financial security in order to prioritize my education regardless of cost of living, transportation, and living accommodations. I am incredibly grateful and honored to be a recipient for the Robert Graves Memorial Scholarship. I am a first-generation STEM field major in my family. I hope to keep this trend and instill in my future family the importance of STEM related fields. To learn more about Shea Prescott, click here. GEM Environmental would like to welcome aboard our newest team member, Wayman Trujillo! Wayman is our new Member at Large. Wayman was born and raised in the outdoors of Prescott Az. He went to Prescott High School and after graduation, attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University. As a rodeo scholarship recipient, Wayman was part of the OPSU Rodeo Team. He graduated in 2015 with a BA in social studies/ political science. Wayman’s goal was to attend law school and pursue a joint law degree and masters in land conservation, however, his love for being outside lead him to work as a wild land firefighter, cowboy, hunting guide and river guide. In these pursuits, he has witnessed firsthand the importance of STEM education, from fire ecologists to hydrology engineers “The public lands depend on educated STEM students.” -Wayman Trujillo Wayman enjoys spending time with his family and passing on his love of nature to his young son. He is still involved in rodeo, and is an active team roper. He currently works as a Title Examiner for Empire West Title Agency, working throughout Yavapai County. His passion and skills, also keep him busy with his side business and hobby, Wayman Trujillo Photography. Between family, work, photography, and team roping, Wayman also loves to mountain bike. Last month, he completed The Whiskey Off-road, a 30-mile extreme mountain bike event! As a new board member, Wayman plans to use his community connections to help spread the mission of GEM. The satisfaction of helping GEM, in our conservation pursuits and getting people involved in our STEM programs, is what he looks forward to the most. Thank you for joining our team, Wayman!
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