It’s not really goodbye!

Somehow, it is already July, and my Americorps term with SFEG is coming to an end. This last ten months has been a whirlwind of new experiences for me. As Community Outreach Associate I got to wear many hats and explore the inner workings of the non-profit and restoration world, and get a feel for the different paths I may want to take for the future. 

With SFEG I got to explore every corner of Skagit Valley from wading a raging winter creek in search of spawning salmon, to helping host a film festival in the historic Lincoln Theatre, to spending my summer Fridays on Deception Pass beaches. I got to do all this and more while meeting and interacting with Skagit community members from all walks of life.  Working with SFEG allowed me to take part in many various types of projects and work settings and solidify that conservation is the right field for me, and helped me narrow down the ideal role I would like to serve within this field.

I worked hard trying to instill in everyone a sense of pride in the salmon species with which we share a home, hoping that maybe that pride will manifest in actions that could help aid salmon recovery. I can’t speak for the community at large, but I know that what I have seen and learned about salmon and the Skagit has inspired in me a burning desire to protect the legacy of our salmon and river. 

So hopefully I’ll see you all around, out on the water or a trail, sharing the magic and passion we all feel here in Skagit.