GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — International Youth Day, Aug. 12, is a time when the national park service celebrates the hard work its interns have done this season.
Ethan Spaulding is one of the education interns helping in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. As a Southwest Conservation Corps intern, here is what he had to say about the experience.
“My time at the Great Sand Dunes has been more than I could have ever expected. The mix of geology and biology in the park makes it fascinating to learn more every day. Educating and talking to visitors about how and why the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve came to be is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. My favorite part is exploring the area and using what I’ve learned to make sense of this great big world,” he said.
Southwest Conservation Corps' Individual Placements Program pairs college students, recent graduates, and young adults with resource managers and places them in federal agencies and other non-profit organizations. The resource managers serve a mentor role, creating accessible learning opportunities and hands on experiences throughout the individual's term.
Individual placements run anywhere from 8 to 52 weeks in duration at locations throughout Colorado and New Mexico. Each placement offers a unique opportunity for immersive training, career development, and positive impact - for both the Individual Placement, and the communities they serve.
