AmeriCorps 2023-24 habitat enhancement crew members, from left: Kelcie, Greg, and Jaise.
Jefferson Land Trust got a big helping hand this year from three amazing AmeriCorps interns!
Jaise demonstrating her chainsaw skills during forest thinning work.
From fall 2023 through summer 2024, Kelcie Kysar, Greg Sachs, and Jaise Wilson worked alongside Jefferson Land Trust staff and volunteers to carry out important forest health improvement, habitat enhancement, and trail projects; help plan and lead work parties and youth field trips; create a preserve management plan; and much more.
“This was an incredibly valuable chance to work in habitat restoration and conservation, which are fields I would love to continue to dedicate my time and energy to in the future,” Jaise said.
“The fulfilling work I’ve been involved with here has helped me continue my lifetime commitment to leaving this world a better place than when I found it,” said Greg. “I’ve also really loved getting to know the hardworking, caring, and inspiring people of this organization and those in the community who have made this work possible.”
The three crew members began their time here by training with several specialized tools we use to manage our preserves, like mattocks and chainsaws. Once trained, they were ready to help with several important projects across our nature preserves.
This awesome team worked rain or shine to help us make huge strides in achieving our preserve management goals of increasing forest and stream resilience to climate change — making a big impact at our preserves while also gaining hands-on experience that will help advance their careers.
AmeriCorps crew members and Land Trust staff at a Scotch broom removal event on Chimacum Ridge in June 2024.
“I really enjoyed all of the opportunities to learn and build new skills in land and habitat conservation, and to see the behind-the-scenes of how a land trust works,” Kelcie said. “I definitely plan on using the knowledge, network, and skills I’ve gained during my time here to continue pursuing a career in land conservation.”
One of their main focuses was working with Land Trust staff and volunteers to implement an ambitious forest health project at our Duckabush Riparian Forest Preserve. By thinning — selectively removing small-diameter trees from dense areas — the crew helped create conditions for a healthier forest. The trees felled during thinning were then used to make habitat piles and surrogate nurse logs to benefit wildlife.
“My time with the Land Trust has taught me so much about restoration practices. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work with and learn from so many awesome people who have a shared passion of taking care of the land,” said Jaise.
Kelcie and Jaise (right) participating in a track and sign evaluation/workshop for Land Trust staff and AmeriCorps crew members led by CyberTracker master tracker David Moskovitz (left) in Spring 2024. Here, they’re looking at mink tracks.
With cheerful attitudes, curious minds, and caring hearts, each of them enriched the Land Trust community as well as the land we care for together.
“I want to share how extremely grateful I am for this opportunity,” said Greg. “I want to say thank you to those who have cared for these lands since time immemorial up to those that I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside. I know it takes a lot of good hearts to gently love a place, and these special places are in great hands.”
On behalf of the Jefferson Land Trust community, we wish to express our gratitude to Jaise, Kelcie, and Greg for all their hard work over the past year. Thanks to them, our nature preserves are set up for success far into the future. We wish them all the best of luck in their careers and future endeavors.
We’re especially pleased that Greg will continue his career here at Jefferson Land Trust by stepping into the role of full-time Field Assistant in September 2024. Click here to learn more about Greg and his new role!
Greg helping lead a field trip for local students at the Land Trust’s Snow Creek Uncas Preserve in early 2024, where our partners at the North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC) have undertaken a huge restoration project.
“Over the past year, what I’ve enjoyed the most is working in the field,” he said. “To me, there’s no greater feeling than being on a beautiful piece of land, knowing it’s protected and experiencing the wildlife that relies on it, while at the same time stewarding that land to further enhance its contribution to the greater good of all living beings.”
In his new position, Greg will work in the field year-round, bringing the skills, passion, and relationships he’s built over the past year to his role of caring for land. He’ll be working with a new AmeriCorps intern, Kelly, who’ll join the Land Trust for a 10.5-month engagement this coming fall!
