The end of one story, and beginning of another

How I found myself in the high desert of Idaho, and the anticipation of what's to come

Soaking up the sun on a beautiful hike out in the back country bordering the Frank Church Wilderness area, this was one of my favorite days of our 'intro to Idaho' trip! The area was abundant with wildflowers, views of rocky bluffs, signs of wildlife, and a lovely river, and many chipmunks popped out to welcome us.

I moved to Boise in July of this year, without a job or a place to live. I arrived in my big orange 1975 Ford camper-van with my partner Jason and my beagle Arlo; we were in search of a new environment - and boy did we find it.

This is Lola, our trusty (and a bit rusty) home on wheels. She came into our lives just six weeks before we took off to live in her full-time during our transition. Having a place to cook food, wash dishes, and sleep without setting up and taking down camp each day was a total game-changer for camping.

The Move

I've lived the first 23 years of my life in the temperate rain forests of western Oregon. I find the deepest feelings of home and belonging among the tall evergreen trees of the hills and in rocky coves along the sea. Growing up on the beautiful Oregon Coast, my love of the outdoors grew out of family outings, school programs about nature and science, and curiosity-driven exploration of forests and beaches. During college, my eyes were opened to the vast possibilities of what engagement with the environment could mean in terms of a career. I discovered a field which combines my passions for protecting natural spaces and improving human lives.

Upon finishing my undergraduate degree this past spring in Corvallis I was ready to move on in some kind of big way, even though it would mean leaving behind a community of amazing people I had come to love. Almost by chance, Boise was chosen as the next landing place along my path of life. I moved to Boise in July of this year, without a job or a place to live. I arrived in my big orange 1975 Ford camper-van, Lola, with my partner Jason and my beagle Arlo; we were in search of a new environment - and boy did we find it. The desert was new to me. The city was new to me. Idaho was new to me. Living 8 hours away from my family and friends was also new to me. I was excited to be here though. I wanted to get to know the desert, live in a city, and be closer to the Rockies, and spend time with the beautiful mountains of Idaho.

This is my wonderful partner, Jason, and our pup Arlo, resting our tired feet near the cool stream before we set off on the second leg of our hike.

This is Arlo in his happy place, although you wouldn't know it by looking at him with that beagle resting pouty face. He loves to be free and frolic in wild places.

One of many lovely sunsets on our trip, this one was extra special with the Sawtooths and the moon floating out in the haze.

Getting Settled

I still cannot believe how beautifully things have fallen into place for me since arriving in Boise, and I feel truly grateful.

Once we returned from a beautiful introductory trip through the Sawtooths, the heat of the summer (up to 104*F!) pushed us to find a place to live with four walls, running water, and air conditioning. We found a nice little place near the Boise River and biking distance from downtown, and the job hunt was on. I found some environmentally focused organizations doing great things around Boise, and knew that I really wanted to work with them. However, I also knew that the chances of finding an open position, and getting it, were slim in a profession largely based in non-profit programs. Education and causes for the environment do not receive a steady stream of funding, unfortunately.

I felt that these few places were my only shot at doing something I love, rather than settling on a job for a paycheck doing work that I didn't find important. I discovered listings for positions accepting applications, and next things you know I was signing up for AmeriCorps! I was going to do whatever it took to be there working along side the folks I admired. The position I had wanted most was, to my dismay, already filled when I submitted my applications. I got an email to do an interview with a nature center, and after I had met my would-be supervisor and heard about the position, I had a good feeling. A few nights later, I checked my email one last time on the off-chance that I had some news on the position with the Foothills Learning Center; I had got it! I was so thrilled, and incredibly thankful. I believe that it all played out in the perfect way, and I ended up where I needed to be. I still cannot believe how beautifully things have fallen into place for me since arriving in Boise, and I feel truly grateful.

Blooming rabbitbrush was a beautiful welcome to the foothills, with the sun warming my bones and the scent of honey drifting on the breeze.

Jumping right in

The week I arrived at FLC was a busy one, and so were the next several! Some staff members were out of town, and we had a lot of field trips scheduled. Each day there was at least one event, if not two or three. Between learning how to teach the lessons, helping with field trips I had never seen done before, and getting familiar with how FLC operates, I was running on excitement and many cups of tea. Beginning this way turned out to be great though; I became familiar with much of the curriculum and programs before the winter slow-down, and got to see what works well and what doesn't. That experience will allow me to do a better job when I update lessons and activities for our programs over the winter. Seeing so many kids eager to be out in nature made me even more thrilled to be spending the next year at FLC, and left me feeling rather lucky. Having a job where I get to dissect owl pellets, get kids excited about science, and go on hikes is pretty much the dream, not to mention the beautiful setting in which I get to do it!