Montana State Parks new AmeriCorps members Hillary Sward and Josh Gross.
The Seeley Lake State Parks have two new AmeriCorps members this season!
AmeriCorps is a national service program that was formally created in 1993 with the signing of the National and Community Service Trust Act. This bill united multiple service programs under one umbrella, making it easier for Americans to volunteer their time to improve their country.
Prospective AmeriCorps members register with the AmeriCorps system, search for open placements within government agencies, non-profits and other organizations and then go through an application process that mirrors a standard job search.
Applicants that are accepted then agree to a term of service, during which time they work for their selected organization for free – almost.
In exchange for their service, AmeriCorps members receive a living stipend and they can qualify for an education award at the end of their term, which they can apply to approved educational expenses.
The two AmeriCorps members that will be serving at the Seeley Lake area State Parks this year are Hillary Sward and Josh Gross. These individuals bring a wide range of experiences to the table and look forward to being able to serve Placid Lake, Salmon Lake and Beavertail Hill State Parks.
To help you get to know Hillary and Josh, we gave them a list of questions about themselves.
Hillary Sward
Where are you from? I grew up near Sioux Falls, SD, but have lived in Iowa and most recently, Missoula.
What is your background? Education is the only constant in my background. I have a bachelor's degree in music education, emphasis on trumpet and voice and minored in theater and geography.
While still in South Dakota, I taught 5-12 grade bands and took our choir and band students to festivals, honor bands and All State music events (and extra duties as assigned).
I moved to Missoula to attend the University of Montana, obtaining a Master of Science in Geography with a certificate in Environmental Education.
Now with Montana FWP, I can focus on programs and educational opportunities within state parks.
Why did you join AmeriCorps? I used graduate school as an opportunity to change careers, so my experience and education didn't line up well when I graduated. My first term with AmeriCorps was with Energy Corps, focusing on Environmental Education in Missoula.
The Montana State Parks AmeriCorps program, specifically my position with Placid, Salmon and Beavertail Hill, is giving me the field experience I need to pursue a career in non-formal educational settings.
What is your favorite thing about working in Seeley? Being in Seeley Lake is nostalgic for me. While Seeley is much prettier (standard answer there), my hometown is a similar size and has a familiar personality, so being here reminds me of where I grew up.
What are you looking forward to this summer? I can't wait to see Seeley really come alive this summer!
I've been here since January, but it is a totally different world (so I've been told). I've done a lot of big Montana things, but some things are specific to this area: getting better at paddle boarding, snorkeling in the lakes, familiarizing myself with local trails, wandering the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range and other things I haven't discovered yet. The possibilities are endless, I'm sure.
On the job, I have a lot of programs planned for our three parks, so there will be a variety of opportunities to interact with visitors and locals as the season progresses.
Josh Gross
Where are you from? I'm from a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and that is where I've spent most of my life. However, I've also lived in California, Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington and now Montana.
What is your background? Most of my professional life has been spent working for a county parks district near Cleveland. I spent over 10 years there, doing everything from mowing grass to overseeing parties and assisting with special events.
I've done more than working for the county parks district, however. I've done archaeological field work (excavations) in Belize and Ohio, built trails for the City of Boulder, Colorado and volunteered for a year in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's archaeology lab.
Some of my other experience includes freelance writing, blogging and working as a college recruiter.
Can you please explain your education? I hold a master's degree from Humboldt State University that combines the social and environmental sciences.
Essentially, I'm trained to look for the root causes of environmental problems and then work with involved parties to find a solution. The goal is to address environmental concerns in ways that respect the rights and cultures of local communities.
Why did you join AmeriCorps? Short answer: COVID. When the pandemic hit, I was living in Ohio after studying in northern California for two years. I wanted to get back out West, but in a way that was more meaningful than a vacation.
Thus, faced with job uncertainty brought about by COVID, I signed up for AmeriCorps. I served one term in Colorado that I thoroughly enjoyed and so applied for a second term in Montana.
What is your favorite thing about working in Seeley? The generic answer is to say that the Seeley Lake area is beautiful but that's absolutely true. Of all the places I've been, Seeley might be the most breathtaking.
In addition, I love how friendly everyone is here. It's obvious when I'm walking around that I'm not from the area and yet everyone has been hospitable and welcoming. I appreciate that!
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