I’m super excited to continue my journey with the Organization and the new possible opportunities for projects. 

Since the beginning of my internship, I have been working on the Region 8 Trails Asset Inventory Clean-up project. This project consisted of creating new trail assets for Refuges that have had trails for over five years or longer that have been missing from their inventory. For trails that are no longer in use, I would have to process them as decommissions. I also had to update trails already in the database to accurately display the correct trail name, trail number, coordinates and construction material. I am now at the end of this project with only a few more trails left to submit and make corrections to. With this project coming to an end, this means that I have been able to start getting into new tasks.

One task that I have been assigned is running budget reports for Storm Damage and ERFO (Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads) Funds. I expressed to my supervisor that I had an interest in learning more about the budgeting aspect of projects so she was able to teach me how to run budget reports myself. I would like to continue learning more about this side of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and I am hoping that there are potential shadowing opportunities with this branch. 

I have had the chance to do some training as well. I participated in an off-road utility vehicle training at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. This training is intended to provide people with the skills and knowledge necessary to safely operate an ATV or a UTV. While I don’t have to use these vehicles for my position, it was an opportunity I did not want to pass on. During the training we were able to learn how to tie down and transport the vehicle, safety precautions that you must take before operating the vehicle, and operating the vehicle itself. We were able to practice on a course and get used to driving both the ATVs and UTVs before taking them on a trip around the refuge. It was a very fun experience and I was glad I was able to take that training.

 I have recently completed my hours to be eligible for the Public Land Corps Certificate which gives me non-competitive hiring eligibility for federal jobs. Now that I have my resume ready, I am now applying to federal jobs and I am hoping to become a full-time federal employee.