Dear reader,
What do you love? Picture something you love inexplicably, something that makes your heart sing. A tree, a poem, a person, a song, anything. Hold on to the feelings you feel, breathe them in, let them flow over you.
Take the Leap!
In the spring of 2017, I applied to join the In My Backyard (IMBY) team for the summer. I remember finding a quiet place on University of Washington’s campus to take a phone interview in-between classes. My heart raced a tad faster and my palms got clammy from the nerves because interviews will do that to a person!
Aspirations – What would you do in your wildest dreams?
The Wonderland Trail. Just the name itself is daunting, and that’s why I want to hike it. “The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles long and encircles Mount Rainier. It is a strenuous hike with lots of elevation gain and loss, through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine areas.” (NPS) This sounds like my cup of tea.
Introducing Suzannah!
As a Washington native, I feel grateful to be located in the Puget Sound region which is hugged from all directions by diverse, natural landscapes. Whether it be peering under rocks along the beach to observe the miniature crabs scuttling by, to the winding hikes up into the Cascades to appreciate it’s rugged beauty that rivals even the most picturesque postcards, I have always felt at home here.
Welcome, Sarah!
Sarah grew up in Ellensburg, WA, and found a passion for environmental conservation and stewardship as a high school student. Continue reading
Liz – IMBY Mentor
I was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington and grew up among the trees, fostering a unique sense of peace within myself that I can only find in nature. Continue reading
Meet Brady!
Brady is currently working towards a degree in Energy and Sustainable Policy at Penn State University. Continue reading
Identity: Why I Storytell
“Who are you? What is your story?” If you were to ask me this question a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to give you an answer. A part of me would have felt that my story wasn’t important enough to share. Another part of me wouldn’t have known what to tell you. It’s a question that I’m still trying to answer and claim for myself. Identity regarding my ethnic background has been one of the more confusing topics that I’ve struggled to explain. “Confusing” not in the sense that I don’t know my ethnic background. It was confusing trying to understand how I fit into that identity.
The Best Times – APAP Program Reflection by Twinny
The youth program A Place at the Park (APAP) is a summer internship opportunity for youth that partners with college mentors from another program: In My Backyard (IMBY) and entailed many aspects and subject matter relating to the National Park Service.
Tayler’s Final Reflection
Ten weeks have flown by. So, so, so quickly. This week is the last week and I know I am not ready to leave this fantastic program. The past ten weeks have not only been about learning about so many things, but learning about the people in the program.
