Mount Vernon, WA

Gonzaga University- Applied Mathematics

Growing up in Western Washington, Sean found his love for the outdoors by hiking and mountain biking in the dense forests of the area. He also became passionate about protected land when he visited National Parks all over the West with his family. During high school, he loved working on trails in his backyard and neighborhood. Sean moved to Spokane, Washington when he became a student at Gonzaga University. There, he has loved learning new outdoor skills during his time as a trip leader for Gonzaga Outdoors. Currently, his favorite outdoor activities include mountain biking, skiing, fly fishing, backpacking, and whitewater rafting. Anytime he can get away from the craziness of college life, Sean finds peace in outdoor spaces with friends.

Oregon, WI

University of Wisconsin Platteville- Environmental Science & Conservation

Nathan is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and Conservation at UW-Platteville. Nathan grew up around the Madison area in Wisconsin, hiking and camping. Nathan worked three seasons in the Boundary Waters, a national Wilderness in Minnesota where he gained experience working in remote areas and developed a love of nature.

Fort Worth, TX

University of Montana- Ecosystem Science & Restoration

Over the past four years, Rowan has called Missoula and the surrounding landscape home. Having recently obtained a B.S. in Ecosystem Science & Restoration, he is excited to spend a summer with SBFC exploring and learning how to be a great steward to these beautiful public lands and wilderness areas. While he hasn’t done trail work before, Rowan is an experienced backpacker and is no stranger to doing fieldwork in remote areas. When he isn’t on the trail or in the lab, you can find him knitting, reading, biking around Missoula, and listening to loud music.

Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University- Sociology & Journalism

Clarinne grew up in Portland, OR, where she spent her childhood hiking in the woods and camping along the coast. Clarinne loves hiking, running, backpacking, and finding any way to spend time outdoors. She is currently a student at Gonzaga University where she has been able to further her knowledge of the outdoors through working as a student trip leader. Clarinne has a passion for protecting the environment and is excited to learn more about wilderness preservation and be able to give back during her time as an SBFC Wilderness Ranger Fellow.

Athens, GA

University of Georgia- Forestry

Ian grew up in northeast Georgia and has always been drawn to the wilderness. He has been backpacking all of his life and has spent many nights outside. He lives for nature and does not want to see it disappear. He wants his children and future generations to get to enjoy the beauty he has experienced outdoors.

Missoula, MT

University of Montana- Wildlife Biology

Sam is a recent graduate from the University of Montana with a degree in wildlife biology. She has been living in Missoula for 7 years and loves to spend her free time running, hiking, and skiing in the wilderness. Sam has a background in baking bread, brewing beer, biological field work, and trail work with the Montana conservation corps. Sam is very passionate about the conservation of our wilderness areas and looks forward to beginning her career as a steward for the wild lands she holds near and dear.

Saxony, Germany

University of Florida- Food & Resource Economics

Marlena grew up connecting with the outdoors of New England, Germany, and Florida. Working as an outdoor guide during her bachelor's degree opened her eyes to the power of nature to shape individuals and communities. Three months of conservation work in Utah and Arizona inspired her to seek further opportunities to practice stewardship of wild landscapes. She is passionate about creating a world in which people and the planet can thrive.

Snow Camp, NC

North Carolina State University- Forest Management

Caroline is passionate about the outdoors and has done outdoor work for years. In high school, she did trail work for her local park service and worked for a canoe and kayak company most summers. She has always wanted to visit Montana and Idaho, and this fellowship has given her that opportunity, while also learning about wilderness stewardship. She plans on hiking the whole Appalachian Trail one day, along with visiting all the national parks in the United States. Her hobbies include rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, backpacking, and gardening.

Franklinton, LA

University of Mobile- Marine Science

Samuel’s love for the outdoors started with hunting and fishing at a young age. As he got older, the labor side of preparing for upcoming seasons and occasional farm work fueled his passion and interest in conservation and land stewardship. Majoring in Marine Science and planning to continue his education in Forestry: Wildlife Habitat Management, Sammy desires to use his knowledge and experience to have a career conserving the beauty of nature. In his free time, Samuel enjoys hunting, fishing, and outdoor photography. He wants to use his time at SBFC to develop his outdoor skills and become a well-rounded advocate for the preservation of nature.

Decatur, AL

Auburn University- Natural Resource Management

Colburn was raised in North Alabama and enjoys days spent climbing, hiking, scuba diving, or even just hammocking. Anything to get him outside, as he feels most connected and at home when in nature. He is currently at Auburn University pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Management, and is excited to be spending his summer with SBFC to get hands-on experience in stewardship.

Duluth, MN

Bates College- Biology & Environmental Studies

Emma is currently a senior at Bates College majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies. She grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. Emma was inspired to apply for this position after spending last summer as part of a snorkel crew based out of McCall, Idaho. Emma enjoys running, hiking, and nordic-skiing and is looking forward to learning more about backpacking and wilderness stewardship this summer.

Denver, CO

Colorado Mountain College- Sustainability Studies

Nate grew up camping and exploring the Mountain West with his family. He attended Colorado Mountain College, where he completed programs in Outdoor Education and Sustainability Studies. He feels deeply drawn to Wilderness, where he can challenge himself and find purpose. Nate loves to ski all winter and spends his summers biking and backpacking. Along with his passion for outdoor adventures, he enjoys discovering music, reading, and watching hockey.

Missoula, MT

University of Montana- Wildlife Biology

Bailey grew up a military brat and moved around a lot. Despite frequent change in her childhood, her love and appreciation for nature was a constant. Bailey’s education and work experience in wildlife conservation has taught her the importance of balance within nature. Bailey looks forward to exploring the wilderness areas near her new home base through the SBFC Wilderness Ranger Fellowship program. Although new to trail work, she is excited to learn about responsible stewardship of wild places. She believes that respect towards the land is respect to all who inhabit it.

Annandale, NJ

University of New Hampshire- Wildlife & Conservation Biology

Tom has always had an interest in the outdoors, specifically wildlife. During the summer of 2023, Tom was a Trail Ambassador for the Hunterdon County Parks Department, where he worked with fellow Trail Ambassadors to accomplish trail maintenance, outdoor concert preparation, and instructing clients on proper canoe and kayak techniques. Tom is thrilled to spend his summer as a 2024 SBFC Wilderness Ranger Fellow.