Joining the Lakes Region Conservation Corps as late into the term as I did has provided me with great mental and physical fortitude. All within a week, I graduated from college, moved into a new place, and started off my second day of service with SCUBA orientation, and no, the task load hasn’t let up. Joining the term just in time for the ‘busy season’, as I have often heard this time of year referred to, has provided me with a never ending stream of new experiences and learning opportunities. Between lake/trail hosting, diving, volunteer days, campsite caretaking, demolishing and rebuilding a tent platform, water quality sampling, trail maintenance, and the plethora of other duties I haven’t covered, I’m happy to say my fear of struggling to find new things to learn after graduating college is unwarranted.
Out of all the tasks we do here my favorite ones always involve being with the community that surrounds Squam Lake. Hearing the memories people share with their friends and families, witnessing their curiosity regarding the conservation status of the lake and how they can help is such a rewarding feeling. I’m a firm believer that change starts locally and to be at the center of that change within such a tight-knit and supportive community like Squam constantly reminds me of how special the service I do is. To have such an encouraging community around me; from friends, family, and co-workers to the strangers I meet while serving, they all inspire me to get through difficult things.
Among all the novelty and challenges I’ve experienced, the most novel and challenging had to be SCUBA. As someone who is scared of deep and dark water, scuba has its challenges. Despite this, I rose to the occasion and am now SCUBA and Weed Control Dive certified and consistently diving for invasive milfoil two or three times a week during this summer season. I enjoy it on the nice days and try my best on the gloomy days, but knowing I have the opportunity to directly preserve the environment and get a stipend to do it keeps me going.
When I first started, I struggled with everything. My buoyancy was never right, the dive flag kept getting tangled around my feet and regulator, the bag kept getting tangled, and the silt. Don’t get me started on the silt. Everything I did when I first started resulted in what we commonly call getting ‘silted out’, which is when there's just too much silt stirred up to do any task under water. Which once again, is not an ideal situation to be in when you’re scared of deep dark water.
Regardless, I learned to control my buoyancy better. After putting the right amount of weight in my buoyancy control vest pockets, I found myself able to move up and down the water column with my breathing. I learned how to situate the dive flag and the handle of the milfoil bag so I can still use both hands to grab the rootball of the plant and remove the whole thing. While I still kick up a lot of silt, enough exposure to it has reduced my fear significantly.
I love lake and trail hosting, but nothing tops the conversations I have with boaters on Squam asking how the milfoil is this season. On the days that freak me out more than others, knowing that I’m going to have a conversation with someone who is very curious about how milfoil is looking in the area keeps me going. It reminds me that the service I provide is so much bigger than myself and truly helps people in the area. Giving back to the community is an amazing feeling and if it’s not us removing milfoil from Squam, no one would be. Managing the milfoil in the lake is an amazing and challenging experience that I’m humbled to do.
Camille pictured on the left
Camille is serving as a trails and access assistant for Squam Lakes Association. She is originally from Maryland and has a degree in Adventure Education from Plymouth State University. She has been in New Hampshire for the past four years and has really enjoyed her time here. Learn more about Camille here.