Taylor worked with Watershed as a Watershed Conservation Corps member in 2022 and as a Crew lead until July 2023. Her crew traveled around the region and primarily served the National Park Service and United States Forest Service. They worked on prairies, glades, military and historical parks, and national scenic riverways to improve the landscape. She said, “We did a wonderful variety of work, typically dictated by the season. It ranged from prescribed burns to trail work to invasive species treatment or removal.”
“I have so many incredible fond memories from my time in the Corps! First and foremost, I loved our small crew. The importance of that cannot be understated when your workmates are also your roommates. We were a dysfunctional family, and when I think back with fondness, it’s generally over the comradery we had. As far as projects go, spending time at Dunn Ranch Prairie was the cream of the crop for a wildflower and sunset lover like myself. Spraying Sericea Lespedeza is hard and tedious, but the buzzing of prairie life was reward enough. I also enjoyed all my time on the Buffalo National River. Spring was burn season, and late summer was Tree-of-Heaven treatment in the park. Who doesn’t love a good fire and some Ozark hiking? The beauty of the Buffalo River National Park holds a special place in my heart.”
“After my time in the Corp, I took a job with the
Ozark Land Trust as a Conservation Specialist. The Ozark Land Trust retains property through conservation easements, ensuring the land will not be developed or subdivided in perpetuity. Permanent green space is the objective. I am a part of their small stewardship crew, who meet with private landowners and make informed decisions on how best to manage their land. Land tied up in a conservation easement can be more lenient than one would think- agricultural use, timber harvesting, habitat restoration, and hunting are all allowable. My job is to maintain a property’s conservation values by ensuring the most responsible and sustainable methods are in practice, and this leniency is not being exploited.”
There is a lot of frustration when entering this field- that would go for any field with such high levels of competition. It can take a lot of money, time, and dirty work just to feel like you’ve broken through the glass ceiling. I’m probably more qualified to speak on that than to give professional advice. Setting goals and striving for something greater is so important, but there is no such thing as a perfect job. Do not undermine the power of the present. In everything you do, be there whole-heartedly and with the best intentions. Enjoying the moment is an art, especially if you are feeling stuck or frustrated, but these times are inevitably the ones we come to miss. Absorb what you can in the present, stay grateful, and be ready to strike when opportunity knocks.
