Inner Roads! Woot! by Caitlin Caitlin Piserchia

My internship this semester was with InnerRoads Wilderness Therapy program, which takes troubled teens out on long backpacking trips into the Montana and Idaho wilderness.  The program is intensive and relationship-based; there’s a small staff-to-student ratio and regular support with the program therapist.  Students grow through developing deeper connections with themselves, with their place, and with the other students and field leaders.  InnerRoads is the only licensed wilderness therapy program in Montana, and it’s officially one of the coolest programs in the nation.  For one, it focuses on serving low-income families who wouldn’t be able to send their kids without financial assistance (Also, the great majority of those kids haven’t been out in the backcountry before).  Second, InnerRoads is community-based and includes an in-depth family component.  While kids are in the field, parents are also meeting and doing their own work to grow as parents and help support their kid when he or she comes home.  There is also a community component; when students are transitioning back into school and family life, they volunteer in the community and 

I was a little worried going into this internship that there wouldn’t be much for us to do—after all, the trips didn’t start going out into the field until late in the spring.  But overall, it was an amazing time, and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes year-round.

 

I first became interested in wilderness (and later, the Wilderness & Civilization Program) because I had an amazing experience in the backcountry with a group of students from around the country.  It wasn’t a wilderness therapy program, but it played a similar role in my life.  I can really appreciate the power of wilderness in shaping self-esteem and a sense of purpose.  This is what InnerRoads is all about.

The best part of this internship was the degree of trust Amy (program director) and Curt (program therapist) placed in us.  Amy asked us what we hoped to get out of the internship, and we co-created our roles for the semester based on what we were hoping to focus on and what InnerRoads needed. 

I feel like I was able to really delve into the inner workings of the program and get a taste of the nonprofit wilderness therapy world. 

The first, and biggest, project I worked on was creating a field staff handbook.  Every April, InnerRoads trains field staff for the season in an intensive, backcountry training.  They usually get a field guide packet for taking with them as a reference.  There are all sorts of other documents and resources that InnerRoads has that had never been compiled into one.  So that was the task of Hunter and I.  Hunter was hired on as logistics coordinator partway through this process, so he took on the logistics section.  I was in charge of everything else.  For the most part, that meant sorting through lots of word documents, copying and pasting, re-formatting, and re-organizing the way the pieces were arranged.  I read a ton about InnerRoads practices and traditions, learned a few transformative “campfire” stories very well after having to re-type them, and I got to help make the story of the program into a cohesive unit for staff leaders.  I also learned that using page breaks is a million times better than not using them. 

I got to add a fair amount of my own work to the handbook.  Based on Curt’s instructions, I created two concept maps on how staff should deal with recognizing and preventing suicidal behavior.  I wrote a fairly long section with background information and instructions for staff.  I was also able to incorporate a couple of small exercises that I’ve seen work well for inspiring self-care/ positive group dynamics in different situations I’ve been in.

All in all, the handbook was over 200 pages.  It definitely felt satisfying to hold the finished, printed copy in my hand and to know that it actually got put to use right off the bat.

My other fairly significant project was working on a grant application (to Clif Bar Foundation), which was entirely new for me.  It was actually kind of fun to write.  There’s a lot of good in this program.

Free Cycles by Myles Riley

In the beginning of January the Wilderness and Civilization Program began its Spring semester, as did everyone else.  Bu t this was a different start; ours encompassed various community-oriented internships, one of which was my internship at Free Cycles, a  local bicycle shop that generously donates bicycles and parts to the public.  The shop consists of numerous employees and interns, including myself.

Together this group of very mechanically savvy individuals work together from noon to six in the evening helping people fix up old bikes, make repairs, organize the shop and make it fun to be there.



Above: there are literally hundreds of bicycles in the warehouse.

<-- Bob Girodano, the proud owner of Free Cycles.

The Free Cycles shop is located on 1st street, at the very end, in the back of a secluded neighborhood.  At first glance it may seem to be nothing out of the ordinary, but the music may engulf you when you open the door.  My first day there and many days after were accompanied by genres including (but not limited to) punk rock, opera, classic rock, and some types I cannot describe.  Some people like to come in and just wanderer around searching for bike parts and others come in to get serious work done.  I have to admit it is comical to observe the different types of people who step foot into Free Cycles.

Below: People working on children's bikes.

There are literally hundreds of bicycles in the warehouse. It is common to see people helping each other out at Free Cycles, partly because the employees feel no need to play dress up; they are very personable and down-to-earth individuals.

(Above: A typical tool line up in the shop)

The internship consists of just a simple six-hour work week and the work schedule is more than flexible.  I loved most that I was allowed to show up any time to complete my weekly hours.  It was truly a relaxed internship.  I gained experience with maintaining bicycles and talking with locals about various ideas relating to bicycle designs and bettering Free Cycles' involvement with Missoula.  Free Cycles is committed to helping the Missoula community, as are its employees.

GUTS! Internship by Ashley Perry

This semester I got to work with GUTS!, a program though YWCA in Missoula. GUTS! is a non-profit organization that stands for “Girls Using Their Strengths.”  This unique leadership and empowerment program is designed by and for young women.  The program encourages young women to explore their personal values and discover their strengths through wilderness adventures in the summer and during after-school groups. 

During my semester, I helped with the planning for the summer adventure trips.  These trips give girls a unique experience to increase self-confidence, hone individual strengths and cultivate their appreciation for the natural world in an environment free from societal pressures.  My main focus was on the Youth Leadership Training Trip, a new addition to the program this summer.  This trip offers leadership training and an opportunity to help lead younger GUTS! trips this summer.  This trip consists of four days backpacking in the Bitterroot, to complete additional leadership training.  I also helped with the other summer trips which include, Girls on Wheels Bike Adventure, Wild Horse Island Adventure, Pintler Backpacking Adventure and Bitterroot Adventure.  All of these trips give the girls such a unique experience, to explore Montana. The trips also include different service projects around Montana like garden harvesting, meals on wheels, helping at AniMeals, and a service project with Five Valleys Land Trust. 

Before working with GUTS! I had no idea how much time goes into all the details of trips like these.  We had to get permits for each area, scout the trails, go over applications, make thousands of phone calls and do lots of research.  It was hard work, but I always loved going in and finding more activities for the girls to do during their amazing week.  It is really special to be a part of a program that gives girls such a unique experience, that is important to have in their lives.  GUTS! offers families scholarships for the different trips and are reasonably priced for an unforgettable experience. 

GUTS! after school program offers girls a safe environment to be them-selves and further their confidence as a young lady.  

I worked with six fourth grade girls that always came in the door with huge smiles on their face, excited for GUTS!.  This was something I looked forward to every week, as the girls warmed my heart with their ideas and willing-ness to make a difference in the community.  My co-leader and I mentioned doing a service project to our group, and before we could finish explaining it they were already making signs and planning it out. The girls planned a bake and jewelry sale for a local the animal shelter in Missoula.  We spent a couple weeks making posters and jewelry for the fundraiser in September.  Every week we do a variety of activities for the girls about different topics that may come up in elementary school.  Their favorite activities consisted of a variety of skits and making up GUTS! raps that are absolutely adorable and beyond creative.  The power these young ladies have as leaders is remarkable at such a young age.  Every girl should have the opportunity to be involved in something similar to GUTS!.  It is important that we continue to fund these programs to keep our youth engaged, empowered and the aware of the world of opportunities around them. 

 

Internship with Senator Tester's Office by Rebecca Boslough

During my semester long immersion into the Wilderness and Civilization program, I found myself encompassed by the wildness of the Bob Marshall, humbled by the kindness and knowledge of our many hosts and guest speakers, and enthralled by excursions with my adventurous peers. When it came time to choose an internship for the final component of the program, I was inspired by Laurie Yung’s Wildland Conservation Policy and Governance class.

Professor Yung introduced us to different environmental laws and policies in U.S., leading me to take Professor Nie’s Natural Resource Law and Policy Class as well as pursue an internship at Senator Tester’s Missoula Office. Tester is the Senate's only active farmer and a strong advocate for Montana’s outdoor heritage, authoring the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act and sponsoring the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act.

    I have learned the ropes quickly during my first two weeks at Senator Tester’s office. The staff is friendly and intelligent, and my supervisor, Becky, has already taught me how to work with constituents and handle casework. As the semester progressed, I began working with Tester’s natural resources staffer for Montana. Natural resources casework can involve resolving issues that constituents have with land management agencies, working with agencies to solve local problems, and informing and educating people about Tester’s stances on conservation and natural resource issues in Montana and around the United States.

    My first week on the job I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie Schriock. Schriock is Tester’s former Chief of staff; the current president of EMILY’s List, an organization dedicated to recruiting Democratic women to run for elected office; and a personal hero of mine. I was also able to sit in on meeting between the Missoula City Council and Senator Tester.

    My position at Senator Tester’s office is giving me valuable insight into how congressional offices operate and the significant role our delegates can play in land management and policy. This summer, I will continue to work for Senator Tester as part of the Truman Summer Institute Program in Washington, D.C.