Welcoming Conservation Northwest’s new interns
Conservation Northwest / Nov 13, 2020 / Our Staff
Meet Laura Le, our Auction Intern, and Garrett Brummel, our Cascades to Olympics and Community Wildlife Monitoring Project Intern!
New faces at Conservation Northwest
Laura Le, Auction Intern
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the northwest?
I am originally from Chicago but have lived in Seattle since I was six years old and consider myself a Seattleite through and through. My family still has strong ties to the Chicago area, but since I have lived in Seattle for most of my formative years I have always considered myself a PNW-er.
Why conservation northwest? what about this organization appeals to you?
I chose Conservation Northwest because I was really amazed and in awe of the amazing projects that have been completed and also the approach CNW takes to community planning and overall conservation. I was excited about the community approach the most and I was really looking forward to getting to say I was a part of an organization that champions local voices while still working to better our landscapes. I think the overall mission of CNW is important and the approach that is being taken is even more important in making these large-scale changes.
what do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
When I’m not working (and pre-COVID-19) I am an avid movie-goer and would watch a movie in theatres every week. I love watching new films and talking about them with my friends and family. I also am an avid crocheter, now with the pandemic I watch movies at home while working on my next project. Additionally, I try to get outdoors as much as I can. As a very extroverted person I do my best to get my friends outdoors with me to do something and nowadays I try to just take a walk to breathe in the fresh air.
Who is your environmental hero?
My environmental heroes are the Irwin family. I grew up watching Bindi Irwin’s TV show and watching Steve Irwin. I always loved how they showed that animals, insects, all living things are not to be afraid of but instead we should work on protecting them and their homes. I have always been so amazed by all the work that they do as a family to champion conservation. I love their enthusiasm for nature and how they made it so accessible for me, a young girl living in large cities.
Garrett Brummel, Cascades to Olympics and Community Wildlife Monitoring Project Intern
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the northwest?
Raised in Olympia Washington, I spent the past 11 years in the Rocky Mountains of Montana before returning for the The Evergreen State College Masters of Environmental Studies.
Why conservation northwest? what about this organization appeals to you?
I’m a big sucker for working with charismatic megafauna, elk in particular are some of my favorite to observe because of the communication within the herd. I also am a fan of the weasel family due to their intelligence and playful ways.
what do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I enjoy long backpacking trips in wilderness areas, pack rafting , fly fishing, and making meals from the abundance of food that can be foraged in the Pacific Northwest, such as chanterelle mushrooms, spot prawns, shellfish, Dungeness crab and salmon.
Who is your environmental hero?
Theodore Roosevelt is my conservation hero, we owe so much of what we have now to him.