Group photo featuring the interns of both Newton County Soil & Water and Kankakee Sands’ Youth Environmental Stewardship programs
Initially, I thought this job with the Newton County Student Conservation Internship would be just a regular laborer job. I was going to be using tools and machinery. There was more walking and talking and observing nature than I expected. Walking across the land to the deer cameras, walking to locations to pull remove invasive plants, walking farm fields with Bri Styck to check conservation reserve program acres, and walking to seed collection locations where I tried to harvest more seeds than Alyssa. I am no stranger to work so I thought getting a job I am already used to would be nice.
I like a work environment where we do a task and then we do something different the next day. It never gets old. I like being close to home, and would love to work at LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area. I like being outside a lot. In the future, looking for a job that does not involve paperwork or sitting still, that allows me to move and be outside and use my hands. I would like to work with people that are willing to work and get the job done in a timely manner.
During the internship, I spent the most time at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area and The Nature Conservancy. Based on my experience in the Student Conservation Internship these are some of my favorite mentors:
Jackson helping at the Willow Slough garage
Alyssa at The Nature Conservancy: one of the kindest people to work with. Has a task-based work system that works well with everyone and she is willing to help without question when someone needs help.
Gus at DNR Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area: someone who I would consider a friend who has a way of talking into the work day not to slow but not jumping in ether and once in the work day it feels like helping out a friend and someone who will help whenever asked.
Robert at DNR Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area: one of the most laid-back people I worked with a guy to talk about dumb ideas and laugh while cruising down a trail, road, and highway. With my limited time with him I saw someone who has a strong will and to get things done in a fun way.
Jackson and a volunteer spreading seeds on Kankakee Sands
Life is filled with a lot of people, some are mean no matter what you do; some are nice no matter how mean you are to them. There are some who will always tell you the truth (No matter how much you don’t want to hear it, the truth is always the best thing you can hear), and those are the people who should surround yourself with.
Thank you for sharing what the internship meant to you, Jackson! To find more success stories of the Newton County Soil & Water Internship, click the button below.
