Hello everyone! My name is Marilynn, and I recently started serving with the GBCA as this year’s Big Sky Watershed Corps member, an AmeriCorps program in partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps, the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council. During my term with the GBCA, I will be primarily assisting with the Kelly Creek backcountry restoration project, as well as helping with ongoing educational outreach and various other projects. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and hope to be a valuable asset to the Great Burn both in the office and in the field.
I was raised on a family farm directly east of Great Falls, Montana. Growing up, I learned the value of hard work commonly associated with classic farming culture while simultaneously forming an understanding and deep love for the environment. This personal background fostered a strong ethic of stewardship and protection for Montana’s natural environments and lands. While living in central Montana, I often visited the Highwood Mountains, having ample opportunities to hike, explore, swim, and become acquainted with Montana’s diverse flora and fauna.
After graduating high school, I worked in Glacier National Park at Sperry Chalet, working within their restaurant. During that summer and fall, I spent every free moment exploring the park and interacting with visitors. I formed a deep love of alpine lakes and glacial formations, spending many afternoons swimming in Lake Ellen Wilson and hiking to the peak of Gunsight Mountain.
I previously served an AmeriCorps term with the Rocky Mountain Conservation Corps, working in northern Colorado on post-fire trail rehabilitation and infrastructure installation. Additionally, I served an AmeriCorps term with the Montana Conservation Corps on the Fuels and Fire Crew, primarily working in Salmon-Challis National Forest on fuel reduction projects. Last year, I worked for the Forest Service in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest as part of a district-wide engine fire crew.
Most recently, I graduated from the University of Montana in December 2023, earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Sustainability. My studies at UM primarily focused on the multifaceted nature of climate change and its impacts on the natural environment and communities. I specifically focused on the ethical challenges and questions related to climate change, relating to the concepts of resilience building and adaptation spanning into the future. Additionally, my degree focused on collaborative methods of natural resource management, allowing for multi-stakeholder involvement in the face of challenging situations with diverse values.
In my free time, I enjoy running and am currently training for my first marathon, which I hope to complete this coming summer. I also love hiking and backpacking when possible, ideally to alpine lakes, streams, and waterfalls. Additionally, I absolutely love to read and often find myself reading during my spare time, as well as spending time with my cat, Rufus.
I look forward to my term with GBCA as part of the Big Sky Watershed Corps and hope to use my knowledge and passion to help and protect the Great Burn area.