A summer internship with Sierra Streams meant more to Jenny Hakala then just gaining experience in the field; it was an opportunity to explore the hidden corners of her home, Nevada County, and all of the beauty.
After graduating from Nevada Union in 2013, Jenny started general education courses at the local Sierra College. It was there where a lower level class in earth science sparked a passion for natural resources. She went on to Humboldt State University to pursue a degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Restoration Ecology. Humboldt State called to her because of the opportunity for a great education in beautiful Northwestern California, while being close to and far enough from home at the same time. She’ll finish up her bachelor’s degree later this fall.
This past summer, Jenny spent two months as a Watershed Steward Intern with us. She had the opportunity to see three different sides to our work: data collection, lab analysis, and data entry. She says of her internship with Sierra Streams, “This internship was an all around amazing experience for me to truly find out if this type of career path was right for me.”
Jenny has always been trying to spend the maximum amount of time in the fresh air so it’s no surprise that she fit right in during her internship with us. Whether she was wading in streams collecting water quality data, macro invertebrates, algae samples, or conducting physical habitat surveys, Jenny was always smiling and playing in the water. She says, “Taking a few slippery spills could be relieving in the heat.”
We are so looking forward to watching what Jenny will do next!
If you are interested in interning with us, send a resume and cover letter to info@sierrastreamsinstitute.org ! Or sign up to be a volunteer, here!