My Internship With the Southwest Conservation Corps

Taken from an article written by Kristen Whitney

The Southwest Conservation Crew also taught me how to be a leader. At first I was in a passive role, learning how and when to complete what tasks. I found myself asking a lot of questions to my superiors. Although our crew leaders’ obvious goal was to teach us about the individual tasks to restore a campsite, the underlying goal was to give us the tools to lead these tasks on our own. To begin this transformation, they had us lead our own educational talk on a skill or topic for which we had previous knowledge. I organized and lead a lesson on using topographic maps and Brunton compasses to locate oneself in the wilderness. Also, each day we were assigned to lead a daily task, whether it be preparing breakfast, cooking dinner, or cleaning up after any of the two meals. Towards the second week, my crewmembers and I were assigned a day to be the “leaders of the day”. On our day, I lead the physical warm-up and stretching exercises, decided when breaks and lunch was, and lead the evening debrief. We were also given mid-job reviews where the crew leaders gave us suggestions to improve upon our leadership skills. From this I learned that I have many valuable questions, which perhaps I can answer first before I seek answers from my superiors. Somewhere in the middle of the month I found myself automatically leading daily tasks and answering many questions posed by my co-workers and myself. I became a resident expert and leader on trail and rock wall/bar building. At the last two campsites, instead of the leaders telling us what needs to be done, it was a collaborative group discussion: Everyone identified the tasks needed to restore the campsite and divvied the jobs amongst ourselves. Towards the end of the month, the line between crewmember and crew leader was blurred. We were all providing the same amount of direction, leadership, and work to all aspects of the day, whether it the campsite restoration tasks or the daily living chores.

While in the wilderness, not only did I train my mind to be more patient, and determined, but I also remembered how to clear it, staying in a present state of mind. Without the distractions of cell phones and the Internet, I was left with time to sift through my thoughts and look to nature for inspiration and peace. Only from nature was I reminded of how to be presently mindful. Unable to cling to the comforts of an electrically powered home, nature’s elements set the pattern of our day.  The sun decided when we would rise and sleep. Only with the permission of a sky clear of lightening would we work. If it rained, our work would be challenged, and a once simple task would take much longer. Under the constant flux of the elements, we could not rely on predictions. Therefore, our work and minds were put into the present moment, unable to completely foresee the path of the day, and in awe of the peaceful or exciting mood of the atmosphere. I was once again reminded of being present in the moment: I was completely in tune with my body and my surroundings. I recognized how the changes in weather affected my mind’s moods and my body’s sensations. The rhythm of the river and sun, and the dynamic character of the atmosphere, paused and removed the anxious chatter in my mind, and filled the void with a peaceful and vigorous mediation.

After the completion of my month-long work with the Southwest Conservation Corp, I have learned much about helping the environment, the community, and my mind and body. Furthermore, I now understand why concepts like “leave no trace” should be employed when working or camping in the environment. I now appreciate all of the hard work that goes into building every campsite. My mind and body are also appreciative, and in awe of the elements of nature that are now forgotten with the advent of technology.  Furthermore, my social skills and confidence have improved infinitely with gained patience and leadership abilities. Most importantly, my mind and body now have a greater enthusiasm for hard labor alongside the wonders of nature. Kahlil Gibran affirms the importance of this eagerness when he wrote is his book, The Prophet (1961), “You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite […] Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune. But I say to you that when you work you fulfill a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born, And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life.” (Gibran 25 & 28).