LAST DAY

RIP my summer in the Tetons... RIP in photographs and memories, but stay alive in all the people who are still wandering around this world. I wish you all success and the Roman Candles which celebrate it.
There are times we are snug in, times we are gone from, times we only dreamt. They all have a feel to them that only a mind full of longing can truly feel, and I know my mind will come back to my summer in Wyoming like it returns to other dreams and words.

  A special thanks to Cecily, who kept me company during my last night and made some delicious fish. We really went out in style, and forced all the good sentiments we have picked over the summer, whortleberry-like, into one forceful jam that could not be denied. 

My Last Words

It's August 11, 2011. This day will make history. As I resort to my past time ritual of the last 12 weeks, the mountainous beauty of the terrain helps me contemplate all of the past, present and future. All thoughts lead to one thing, what is in store for myself now? The situation of uncertainty isn't a scary one, rather it's one of hope. Simply the answer is anything. One simple word, anything; anything, can happen to my path and I feel that's a great obstacle to face. From this day, the 11th day of the 8th month of 2011, I vow to live openly. Most importantly I'll live to be true to myself. I do not plan on carrying out this deed to be perfect, instead I carry this out to take the good with the bad. This uncertainty leaves a great path of how I want to facilitate my growth. I found my self worth, so now its time to ask these questions in order to continue with my legacy. These question in order to continue with my legacy. These questions shall only be answered by one entity, me. My coming experience will answer questions, end chapters, close doors but in sequence start new chapters and open more doors. Essentially I will contemplate my soul and listen to its youthful energy for answers. Is all of this actually real, when will I wake up to the epiphany? Time is far from short as well as distant from endless, let me soar above jumping from peak to peak so I can figure out this new passion.

From Mentee to Mentor!

A few weeks ago I got the chance to meet with 12 awesome students who were visiting from Chicago, Illinois. I got an e-mail from their Science teacher Nathan Dolenc who had learned about me interning here at Glacier National Park through Yosemite Park Ranger Shelton Johnson. These 12 high school seniors were from very diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and most of them had never been to a national park before. They had been raising money for this trip for a little over a year and had just raised the last bit of the $13,000 needed to come here only a week before their arrival.

I was very excited about meeting them and told Mr. Dolenc that I was looking forward to spending a day with them. Wednesday, July 27th we set out on a 4 mile round trip hike to Avalanche Lake and then once we made it to the lake the students began a mountain goat survey through Citizen Science. While they wee sitting down taking a lunch break I began discussing and sharing with them my experience here at Glacier and what it was like being one of the only minorities here. I also told them about the SCA/NPS Academy and let them know that if they were interested in a park service position that attending the upcoming NPS Academy would be an great option.

Some of the students had already decided that a career in the park service was what they wanted to do. It was so great to see the excitement on their face as they saw the diverse wildlife and beautiful mountains here at Glacier National Park. Their reactions reminded me of my first day here, when I was heading over to St. Mary and I stopped at Lake McDonald (GNP's largest lake) and I remembered thinking that I had never seen water so beautiful and so clear anywhere else.My day with the Prosser Career Academy students was by far one of my best and greatest experiences here. Sharing my experiences with them made me realize that I am now in a position where I can be a mentor to a young person.

Their teacher Mr. Dolenc is trying to make the trip to Glacier an annual one for the students at Prosser Career Academy. I think that this experience is important for kids in inner cities because it shows that their is another world outside of our concrete jungles where we live in. Trips like this will help them see that the opportunities are not just limited to whats outside our backyards or on our front stoops but their are a plethora of opportunities many miles away that should be visited and discovered.

WEEKEND JUMP NEAR DEATH CANYON

 Joseph plunges into the mighty depths.

I go in after him.

You can tell how cold the water is from my tortured expression, but it was so worth it.  I encourage all of you to do this before you leave.

It's my last weekend...

2o ft drop and not a care in the world baby, it's my last weekend. Imma do it big.

and some of my highlights were: a going away party on Friday, hose drills with E-3 on Saturday, and too many activities to list for today. I would say that my last weekend in the Tetons was well spent; it's sad to say that I'm leaving this place for some time. This weekend highlights my usual activities I do on a weekly basis, day in and day out. Honestly, this summer has been one big weekend. I'm not sure if I really worked for the last 500 plus hours I logged, it all seemed like play. As I say my farewells they are just "see you later's". I will be back, I'm determined. I won't take no for an answer, I've put myself out there and taken that leap of faith. Overall this summer has been a great experience. A few hiccups here and there but it made the experience even better! So as I leave this Friday it'll be hard not to look back, but I'll continue to look forward with my life and for next summer. Thank you to everyone who had their hands in bringing me back out to this glorious place. As I said the last day of the Spring Break Academy, "the Tetons have been my gateway to finally start with my life," and that still remains true to this day.

Contemplating the Tetons

9 short days, that's all the time I have left here in Moose, Wyoming. As we all rush to say our farwells and try to conquer the many adventures in our park, let us reflect on what we accomplished. 11 weeks ago I was thrown into a different world, no friends, money, car, or foresight of what to come.

I look back and see the amounts of friendships I've made. It took me no time to find my group of people and new family. Around the second week, I mauled over the thought of finally throwing off my shell and being determined to make friends. Luckily, I am still on this mission 9 weeks later. The money was never a problem, it's something you don't need in this wonderful place. There is no admissions fee for having fun in your own back yard. Hiking the Appex Trail or rock climbing in Boulder City didn't take a dime. I couldn't have stumbled upon any of these outdoor activities if it wasn't for the connections I made with my roommates and others. I do hope everyone has had a chance to set forth on their own adventure where they can find themselves submersed in a world of nature; full of greens, browns, blues, grays, yellows, reds and every other color of the rainbow, should easily describe the secret world we all so long for. I can now say not having a car isn't a problem. My mode of transportation is a mountain bike. Morning and night, I bike to work, from work, to the grocery store, to Jenny Lake and all the other attractions my legs will allow me to drive to.

Maybe a few weeks ago, I sat down at Windy Point Turnout and contemplated has this summer actually been beneficial. Did I waste 12 weeks of having fun on the beach to come here? I'll end with this quote, "I was once lost, but now I am found." That's my answer for you all and do hope there are similar stories out there for everyone else.

Till then,

Joseph Vaughn

Feet in Shoes

"You have brains in your head,

you have feet in your shoes,

you can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You're on your own,

and you know what you know,

You are the one who'll decide where to go."

-Dr. Seuss

These shoes right here...man. During the short time I've been here at Yellowstone, these shoes have been my go-to for absolutely everything. I've done everything from attend squad meetings to play basketball at 6am to hiking Mt. Sepulcher in this pair of Chucks (and my feet have not yet forgiven me for the latter).

But in thinking about the seemingly unbearable wear that these shoes have survived over the past few weeks, and in coming across the above quote, I realized just how powerful my experience has been. And it's not just about the shoes. It's bigger than my size 13 Converses. It's even bigger than me.

We, the Academy students and all those we influence to be involved in the parks, are a new breed of people, a new strain of leaders who have taken our first steps in various parks this summer.

The Academy (and those who coordinated it) gave us the information about the parks that birthed these interests that we are now pursuing. They gave us the "brains in our head," and by giving us the opportunity for summer internships, they gave us the proverbial shoes for our feet. And for that, I am extremely grateful.

And going through the summer, with all of the different first time experiences, all of the lessons learned, and all of the possibilities in the park we have been exposed to, we have been allowed to choose what direction we will take this even after our time in the parks has ended.

But it's the end of the quote that hit me the hardest. After we finish this wonderful summer, it's up to us to continue to run with the baton. We were accepted into an Academy where we learned about legacy, diversity, and how those ideas could be advanced. And in some ways, each of us is on our own when it comes to how we spread that message in our own circles.

But with the lessons we learned at the Academy, the experiences we've had in the various parks over the summer, we hold a piece of the parks' future in our collective hands! We truly are the ones who will decide where the park goes. And it's amazing to see opportunities for spreading the word about the park pop up and chances to start or be involved in similar programs (Gimie!).

So I just want to encourage everyone to keep up the good work, keep going! Your sphere of influence and your area of impact stretches farther than you know. The legacy you'll leave is already even now being formed. And you are the one who'll decide where it goes....