AmeriCorps: Week One

In the space of this past week, there have been many little adventures. The first week as an AmeriCorps member is now complete and I feel as though my head just might explode from the wealth of information I keep cramming into it. I mean this in the best way possible. It’s a good kind of explosion, if you can have a good one. I think everything will be less overwhelming once we get into the field.

The job so far has been great! I’ve never served with AmeriCorps before, but I imagine our project is different than most depending on the AmeriCorps program one is a part of. I alluded to the type of work I might be doing this summer, but now I’ve got a little bit of a better hold on it. 

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

So here’s what I know: The project I will be helping with is based out of the Research Associates Branch of the Great Basin Institute (GBI) working in collaboration with the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW) to gather baseline vegetation and habitat data for the Greater Sage Grouse across Nevada. So what that means for me is identifying A LOT of plants, mostly consisting of a few different types of Sagebrush, Pinyon Pine, Utah Juniper and various types of grasses, forbs and wildflowers. Hopefully what this data will provide are varying locations that might be considered suitable habitat for Greater Sage Grouse.

In the past few days, I’ve been inundating my brain with plants, plants, and more plants! I think I’m beginning to get to know some them now, at least the common names and a few Latin names. I’m getting there. By the end of the summer, I’ll have them down pat! 

Though the job is focused mainly on vegetation, there have also been other pertinent training modules, such as field skills. It may seem like a bit of a no brainer since the blanket skills are the same, but it was still necessary, taking into account that none of us crew members were familiar with living and working in the field in Nevada. I was very appreciative of knowing what kinds of critters I might encounter (snakes and scorpions, especially!) in addition to the wide fluctuations in temperatures throughout the day—I may be purchasing a warmer sleeping bag after the first spike, we’ll see how cold I get!

It was also great to become more familiar with off-road driving. I’ve done it a little, but not on a mountain-side or in a huge truck. I was stopped by the Nevada police just yesterday while doing my training because they saw us coming back over the hill and thought we might be dumping hazardous materials or chemicals on the other side. It seems to be a common activity as well as using old TVs for target practice….

In between plants and getting grilled by the police, we’ve also been getting out to do some hiking for conditioning purposes as well as to help acclimate to the change in elevation and ID a few plants. A few of us on the crew (myself included) were branded ‘lowlanders’ much to the amusement of the some of the GBI staff. My ears have finally stopped popping with every slight change in elevation. Great strides, I tell you! The few hikes we’ve done have also been very good as far as I’m concerned, lowlander or not. They were enough to let me know I’ve got some work to do this summer! Not only that, but they afforded some of the most spectacular panoramic views I’ve seen, much to my continual amazement.

My crew members and I were fairly successful this past weekend. We’ve moved on from Harrah’s (they just couldn’t handle us anymore!) and found a decent apartment, still fairly close to downtown. The amusing catch to the apartment we found was that we didn’t have electricity for a few days (we do now, though). We stocked up on some candles and had a grand ole time hanging around the candle on the floor of the apartment playing cards the first few nights. We’ve nicknamed the apartment “The Space” since it no longer looks quite like we’re squatting.  

When we weren’t laughing at our rustic existence, we took advantage of other cultural opportunities and checked out a Turkish Festival going on downtown, with good music and amazing food to sample. I don’t think I’ve ever had baklava as tasty as I did this weekend! 

Was anyone able to see the eclipse?! I’ve never had the opportunity to view one, but was able to this past Saturday. There was a gentleman nice enough to lend me his ‘glasses’ to see it. I wish I’d been able to take some photos!

Mount Rose

I know I mentioned it before, but I will again. I am really enjoying Nevada so far; so much more than I originally thought I would, so this came as pleasant surprise. It’s so different from any place I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit and explore (or rather on par with Iceland)! Sometimes I’m reminded of Montana, with respect to the mountains.

 [Random tidbit: Nevada has 314 mountain ranges—314! That’s crazy!]

 Ah, mountains! It’s so great to look out and see snow-capped Mt. Rose in the distance and then knowing that Lake Tahoe is just on the other side of it. It’s somewhat difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that even though Reno is quite an urban place, there are so many great outdoor opportunities within easy reach. I’m hoping to take advantage of some of them as much as I’m able, especially now without the aid of a car. I’ll find a way…

So, while I figure out just how I might do so, I’ll reap the benefits of being in the field.