It’s quite daunting to write the first journal post for the LRCC cohort of 2026. When I’ve reached out to my peers about this feeling, we all seem to arrive at the same conclusion: we haven’t really done anything yet. How do you write about service when it feels like you haven’t served anyone or anything at all? Instead, our attention is focused on preparing our minds and bodies for the summer season, a gradual and intentional process. While this slower pace can feel uncomfortable, I know that once we are in the thick of our service, we will miss this quiet, snowy winter spent in our little cottage, giggling and playing board games together.
Even though I often feel unproductive, I’ve come to realize that this early stage of service is the foundation for our time at the Squam Lakes Association. I’ve had the opportunity to build relationships with an exceptional group of like-minded individuals who, like me, chose to leave behind familiar lives to serve in this radically rural region. We all gave up other opportunities for the chance to contribute to something larger than ourselves. In return, I’ve found a deep sense of belonging in a close-knit community. Whether it’s stopping to talk with a local snowmobiler or helping an elderly woman reach a box of cookies at Hannaford, these small, everyday interactions feel like our first threads of service. This quiet sense of connection is something I didn’t realize I had missed after leaving Downeast Maine years ago. In this slower, calmer place, people make more space to talk, learn, and engage with one another.
Before committing to this position, I struggled with the decision of whether to return to the Maine Conservation Corps, where I first fell in love with conservation work and national service. There, I would have been comfortable, surrounded by familiar peers and known expectations. Choosing LRCC meant choosing uncertainty, but AmeriCorps is not about comfort. It is about growth, adaptability, and showing up where you are needed, even when the path forward is unclear.
As AmeriCorps members, we are here to serve our communities and grow as individuals. Even when our service doesn’t look or feel productive, we are still learning how to show up with intention and become our best selves. So far, my service has looked like learning wilderness first aid, snowblowing, trucking and plowing, trailering, going to the dump, and understanding how to live and work in this new environment, all of which are intimidating in their own ways, yet necessary. These skills may seem small now, but they are the groundwork that will allow me to serve with confidence, resilience, and purpose as the seasons change.
It turns out that patience is a virtue, and so is service, and I’m learning that both take time.
Snow Replica of Rattlesnake Mountain in preparation for Winterfest
Mel is serving with the Squam Lakes Association as a Trails and Access Assistant. They are originally from Maine and have a background in early childhood education and environmental science. After this term of service, Mel is interested in returning home to Maine and finding a permanent position with a land trust or conservation association. Learn more about Mel here.