In their natural habitat
Girls and young women are famous for their enthusiasm, so much so that we’ve even created a term for those who take passion to the extreme: fangirls. At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are fangirling for fangirls and recognizing them for what they truly are, experts. So without further ado, here are some of the best conservation tips and tricks we’ve picked up from our most trusted experts.
Get out there!
It is never too early or late to start your journey with the natural world. Nothing inspires like crisp outdoor air, bird songs, and the feeling of grass at your ankles. If you’re just starting out, check out your local national wildlife refuge for some engaging outdoor opportunities for all ages and experience levels.
Get dirty.
Out here, we prefer mud over manicures. What’s a little grime compared to a whole lot of positive social and environmental change? Incredible experiences out in the field often come with some unfortunate messes.
Crystal Bradley, an intern assisting with our annual tern census, perfectly captures this winning combination: “It’s very noisy, and the birds aren’t kind, but it was still absolutely breathtaking. Something about just being right in the midst of unaltered nature was serene, despite birds diving to defend their nests and covering you in bird poop.”
Put your back into it.
Actually, you should really lift with your knees. There’s nothing better than a workout with a view. Build some muscle while volunteering at a local refuge, fish hatchery, or Urban National Wildlife Refuge partner city. Sore muscles mean strong futures for both you and the habitat you restore.
These Villanova University students managed to keep a smile on their faces while lugging bags full of trash from the marsh at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. With a little bit of sweat and some heavy lifting the refuge was looking better than ever!
Stay on target.
When working in the field, it’s important to focus your mission. Whether engaging the public, restoring habitat, or conserving culturally and ecologically valuable land, remember to keep your eyes on the prize.
During their field trip to Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Hadley, Mass., these members of Girls Inc. found out first-hand that when you’re waste-deep in waders and muck you may need to remind yourself that a little good goes a long way.
Safety first.
It’s all fun and games until you’re limping home after a long day, sunburned and covered in poison ivy. Come to the field prepared, and be sure you have all the proper training before working with machinery and power tools. Remember, you can’t help anyone or anything if you don’t take care of yourself.
Career Discovery Internship Program participant Delanie Warren can attest to the importance of being prepared. While cutting brush as a facilities intern stationed at Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, she hit a piece of rebar. Metal scraps flew everywhere. Luckily, she was wearing safety goggles, or the metal could have easily struck her eye. Visit her blog to learn more about the impressive projects our interns get their hands on.
Do your research.
Good intentions mean little when they’re not supported by cold hard facts. Through partnerships with the American Conservation Experience and Student Conservation Association, we employ young women in biology internships, where they assist staff in developing a strong science foundation for our conservation efforts.
Younger volunteers like Amal Hussain support our work by developing special projects. Through the Reservoir High School’s Gifted and Talented Education program, Amal spent about 150 hours both on and off Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland studying wildlife/vehicle collisions. After analyzing her collected data, she designed three potential modified culverts for safe small-animal passage. By engaging young women in conservation research, we gain invaluable knowledge and fresh ideas on how to better conserve our precious resources.
Find a friend.
Starting out in conservation can be intimidating for anyone. You can find all kinds of connections amongst your local conservation community. Reach out to your friends, family, and even pets (we don’t judge) to see if they are interested in getting involved.
Find a friends group near you to start volunteering with an established crew. A support system can only boost your confidence, and there’s nothing more valuable than a strong team.
Finally, have a little fun with it!
Just because the work is seriously important doesn’t mean it can’t be seriously fun. There’s nothing in the rule book that says great things can’t happen while having a great time.
Every day we see strong, intelligent, passionate young women working as volunteers, interns and professionals in our offices, labs, refuges, and fish hatcheries. We see them at youth hunts and fishing derbies, participating in habitat restoration projects and biological surveys. The future of conservation lies in their capable hands, and we can rest easy, knowing we’re leaving it to the experts.
Sydney Giuliano is a Student Conservation Association intern with our National Wildlife Refuge System
