LINK Description
LINK internship stands for Leading Internships for New Knowledge, and this opportunity is definitely a chance for learning more about your life, and what you want to do in it. LINK internship is a 3-week long internship that the Junior class embarks on to learn what their career path is going to look like. In this internship, we learn about ourselves through the process as well as what we will become when we are older. During the Internship you are tasked to ask questions, open your mind, and create a project reflecting what you learned through the process of the internship. Juniors use this time to determine if this is a career that they will do in their lives, or if it is something they will never do again. This is when we start to think about what our college experience is going to look like, and how we need to shape it based off of this internship.
LINK Preparation
When I first began to search for my Link Internship I was very nervous and panicked on whether or not I could find something in time, and something that I would relatively enjoy during the three weeks. I wanted to embark on an internship that was involved with the outdoors for sure. I wanted forest, and something involving protection through the forest. My first steps where researching local forest protection organizations. This involved Southwest Conservation Corps, The Forest Service, Forest Rangers, and National Park Service.
There are a lot of challenges that faced me during looking for forest protection including my age relating to legal issues. That being assessing problems in the forest that I can not participate in. Other challenges included there where no internship programs with the organizations and most of the time would be spent in an office.
Ultimately I contacted two organizations before reaching my set internship. This was The forest service, and La Plata Search and Rescue. Both of these organizations said no to my internship offer. However, Dave Austin through Search and rescue assisted me in finding an internship through the rescue field. I was unsure of rescue, but I was willing to try this opportunity. He helped me reach Upper Pine Fire and Rescue. Once I contacted them they accepted my internship offer.
I chose to go with Upper Pine Fire for two real reasons. I want to experience an internship through the wilderness, and I am open to trying to the rescue and fire field. I am nervous on a big level because I do not know what to expect from these three weeks ahead of me. I want to learn what it means to be a firefighter and rescue in the wilderness. I have always been a believer in helping those in need. I am planning to bring an open mind, and eager to learn mindset to the department in Upper Pine Fire. I do not know how I can legally do, but I want to participate as much as I can. I am truly excited about this opportunity in my life but very nervous.
There are a lot of challenges that faced me during looking for forest protection including my age relating to legal issues. That being assessing problems in the forest that I can not participate in. Other challenges included there where no internship programs with the organizations and most of the time would be spent in an office.
Ultimately I contacted two organizations before reaching my set internship. This was The forest service, and La Plata Search and Rescue. Both of these organizations said no to my internship offer. However, Dave Austin through Search and rescue assisted me in finding an internship through the rescue field. I was unsure of rescue, but I was willing to try this opportunity. He helped me reach Upper Pine Fire and Rescue. Once I contacted them they accepted my internship offer.
I chose to go with Upper Pine Fire for two real reasons. I want to experience an internship through the wilderness, and I am open to trying to the rescue and fire field. I am nervous on a big level because I do not know what to expect from these three weeks ahead of me. I want to learn what it means to be a firefighter and rescue in the wilderness. I have always been a believer in helping those in need. I am planning to bring an open mind, and eager to learn mindset to the department in Upper Pine Fire. I do not know how I can legally do, but I want to participate as much as I can. I am truly excited about this opportunity in my life but very nervous.
My LINK Internship
My Link internship was with the Upper Pine Fire Department. This is the fire department located in Bayfield Colorado. This department is responsible for protecting the region against fire and is also the rescue department for those in need. Upper pine is responsible for all medical, fire, disturbance, and rescue related calls. This is a smaller department compared to the local Durango department, but they cover a large area. In the department, there are 8 fire stations, and 3 of these stations are 24-7 manned.
During my LINK internship, I would embark on ride alongs in the firefighter and EMT field, and training in the firefighting and EMT field. I learned during my internship about the importance of rescue, and the importance of responding to
all kinds of calls to assisting the people in the area. I would act as a part of the team during the entire internship and participate in all kinds of training for each type of work that they would do. During my internship, I was stationed at Station 1, 5, and I visited station 4. Station 1 is located directly in the town of Bayfield. Station 5 is located outside of the subdivision forest lakes. Station 4 is located above Vallecito Lake. The enjoyment I had during this internship was phenomenal. http://www.upperpinefpd.org/
all kinds of calls to assisting the people in the area. I would act as a part of the team during the entire internship and participate in all kinds of training for each type of work that they would do. During my internship, I was stationed at Station 1, 5, and I visited station 4. Station 1 is located directly in the town of Bayfield. Station 5 is located outside of the subdivision forest lakes. Station 4 is located above Vallecito Lake. The enjoyment I had during this internship was phenomenal. http://www.upperpinefpd.org/