Conserving the beautiful ecosystem in this region for the enjoyment of future generations takes many hands. And to many who might be reading this, thank you for your help!

A theme that keeps popping up in our discussions during the LRCC on-boarding process is the vibrancy of the conservation community in this area and the depth of care for the lands and waters that sustain it.

As an AmeriCorps member, we are supposed to lead by example, however a big part of that is recognizing all of the other great examples around you, and adjusting yourself to be the best leader (or follower) you can be.  That’s the greatness in community; there are examples all around that can guide you and help you improve in challenging areas.

Interpersonal connections make us stronger and help us reach farther than possible alone. So while I’m nervous to start a new term and saddened by the thought of saying goodbye to the summer crew, I’m grateful for the many opportunities we’ve shared together. I know that this isn’t really goodbye, and that my network is growing.

Fun fact: I’m what some people would consider a “hardcore” Lord of the Rings fan. As a child growing up in the typically flat lands of Finland and Florida, my eyes always grew wide in wonder at the descriptions of traversing mountaintops, battling orcs, and facing countless dangers through rain or shine with a band of merry, trusted companions. Well my dreams came true in a way during the week we spent preparing for our annual Squam Ridge Race.

Now that the milfoil removal season has ended, we are shifting towards a schedule that is heavy on trail work. I’m sad to see scuba diving days come to an end because they were my favorite days, but I look forward to exploring more of the trails.

By the time you’re reading this, the 2019 Squam Ridge Race will have already happened. But at the time of writing this, we are all running around preparing for it. This is my first time experiencing the ridge race, but I’m incredibly excited for it; even with all the hectic preparations. For anyone is scratching their heads wondering what I’m even talking about, the Ridge Race is a race that stretches across several hiking trails in the Squam Lake Watershed. There is both a 12 mile and a 4 mile trail, and people of all ages can participate.

A little something to know about me: I hate change. Despise is a word that comes to mind. It’s not something I particularly appreciate about myself, but I’ve grown to accept the inevitable. Hard to go very far in life without coming across it here and there, though, you know? Change is inescapable, and being able to roll with it in the face of any fear or anxiety is an important skill (and I’ve got plenty of those, mind you. Fears and anxieties, that is). I think I’ve recognized my distaste for all things new and unknown for awhile now, hence a couple of attempts to force myself to ‘get out there’ and ‘expand my horizons’ in the face of my fears. One of which involved literally seeking horizons on the opposite side of the country, where the sun rises over the ocean instead of sets over it.

Signs of a good trailwork day: sore legs, dirt under your nails, a new bruise or two to show off, and a satisfying sense of accomplishment. In the winter, trailwork days were my favorite. I was new to the area then, so strapping on a pair of snowshoes and hitting the trails with loppers in hand was the best way to explore our new home while also working up a sweat. As the weather warmed up, and winter gradually shifted into spring and then sweltering summer, the focus of our LRCC duties at the SLA became less about trailwork and individual projects and more about camp caretaking, diving for invasive milfoil, and acting as hosts at our trailheads and boat launches.

It is September and the months that I had been longing for have come to an abrupt end. Caretaking camping weekends will start being shorter, diving days will be less, and hot days spent by the water will soon be over. All winter I had heard about how awesome summer was from AmeriCorps members who have been here in the warmer months and from members of the public. “The summer is awesome”, “you’re going to love diving” and “the lake is so beautiful”. Holy cow, was everyone right. This summer has flown. It seems like in a blink it has come and gone and while there still a couple weeks left, the fall weather seems to be moving in.