04 Jun This Trail Leads to New Mexico!

Hey everyone, I’m supper excited to say that I will be a Cave Technician intern this summer with the National Park Service at El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments!

Raised in Southern New Jersey most of my days were spent working on my uncle’s farm and camping in the Pocono Mountains. After high school I served five years in the U.S. Navy onboard Submarines in Norfolk, Virginia where I gained an accelerated leadership and a love for teamwork. Throughout my life I’ve always had a natural passion for being outside, but it wasn’t until I started working as an Adventure Trip Leader at the University of Maryland when I realized that I could turn my passion into my career. I really enjoy being a trip leader because I get the opportunity to network and promote great mental health practices, all while showing students some of the east coast’s finest outdoor recreation.

At UMD I’m a Geographical Information Science major with a focus on remote sensing and will be graduating this December. I found GIS because I not only get to enjoy the working outside, but also  demonstrate my love for coding, and most of all have the chance to create large scale visual map representations that promote living together and building a better future for our planet. Along the way, I’ve certified as a Rock Climbing Instructor, ACA Class 3 Whitewater Kayak Instructor, in Swift Water Rescue, and Wilderness First Responder, which has really inspired me to expand my field work experience. My natural drive for helping others also lead me to mentoring incoming veteran students on campus as a Peer Advisor for Veteran Education.

This internship resonates with me because I have the chance to demonstrate my technical skills towards making a meaningful impact on the bat habitats in the southwest. Along with that, I have the rare  opportunity to work with the National Park Service community and learn from some of the most powerful minds in the outdoor fields. I’m looking forward to immersing myself with the caves and ancient architecture in El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments this summer.

Stay Tuned!