More Than a Week in the Woods: My WLA Experience

This week’s blog was written by Ian, an Ursids alum. Ian has a strong interest in wildlife, conservation, photography, and the outdoors. His goal is to pursue a career with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), ideally becoming a DCNR ranger. Ian enjoys learning about Pennsylvania wildlife, spending time outdoors, and finding new ways to help protect and share our natural resources with others.

Before attending the Wildlife Leadership Academy, I already knew that I loved wildlife, photography, and being outdoors. I am 16 years old and from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and one of my biggest goals is to become a DCNR ranger someday. I wanted to attend WLA because I knew it would give me the chance to learn more about Pennsylvania wildlife and conservation while meeting people who care about the outdoors as much as I do. What I did not realize was how much the experience would teach me about myself too.

One of my favorite parts of WLA was learning about black bears in Pennsylvania. Instead of only reading facts from a book, we were able to learn about wildlife in a much more hands-on way. I learned more about bear biology, habitat, behavior, conservation, and the work that goes into managing healthy wildlife populations. It made me realize that there is much more to wildlife conservation than simply protecting animals. You also have to understand their habitat, the people who live around them, and how everything in an ecosystem is connected.

WLA also pushed me to do things outside of my comfort zone. One of those experiences was speaking during a town hall activity. Public speaking can be intimidating, but WLA showed me that being involved in conservation also means being able to communicate what you know. Wildlife professionals need to be able to educate the public, answer questions, listen to different opinions, and explain why conservation decisions are made. That experience helped me become more confident and showed me a skill that I will need if I become a DCNR ranger someday.

Photography was another part of the experience that was especially meaningful to me. I love taking photographs and videos of wildlife and the outdoors because they can tell a story without needing a lot of words. A photograph of an elk in a field, a butterfly on a flower, or a quiet Pennsylvania landscape can make someone stop and notice something they might normally pass by. WLA has made me want to improve my photography and videography skills so that I can use them to teach other people about wildlife and conservation.

Another important part of WLA was meeting people who share the same interest in wildlife and the outdoors. It was great being around other students who wanted to learn, ask questions, and experience new things. I also enjoyed learning from wildlife professionals and seeing that there are many different careers connected to conservation. The experience made my goal of working for DCNR feel even more real because I was able to see some of the knowledge, communication skills, and responsibility that a conservation career requires.

My WLA experience did not end when field school ended. I left wanting to keep learning, photographing wildlife, volunteering, and sharing what I learned with other people. WLA helped me become more confident about the career path I want to follow and gave me experiences that I will remember for a long time. Someday, I hope I can look back on WLA as one of the places where my career in conservation really began. For now, I am excited to keep learning and to help other young people see just how much Pennsylvania’s wildlife and wild places are worth protecting.