Hannah Johnson, Summer Land Steward 

This summer I spent my time working for TILT as a Summer Land Steward. This opportunity originally sparked my interest because of my passion for both environmental conservation and the Thousand Islands. The River has always been one of my favorite places on earth. When I was given the opportunity to learn about a field I am passionate about in a place that I love I had to take it. Spending this summer in the Thousand Islands and being able to make a positive impact in such a beautiful place was such an amazing experience.

Being a Summer Land Steward was very hands-on and I was able to experience so many different aspects of conservation ecology and land stewardship. I was given the opportunity to learn about invasive species and preventative measures, building different structures, landscaping so preserves could be enjoyed by the public, and maintaining the community garden.

One of the bigger projects I assisted with this summer was the addition of the sheep to Zenda Farms. Working with the animals was very rewarding and it really brought the community together. I am eager to apply what I've learned as a Summer Land Steward during my college career and into the future. Following my time as a cadet in the Army ROTC, I will be engaged in a leadership role working under the government. I feel that my experience with this organization has been very transformative in both my leadership style and my view of conservation.