1. Instructions Please create your own subtitle on the next slide. This subtitle title should encapsulate your overarching experience this summer. Please respond to the following reflective questions in writing. Feel free to quote passages from your journal, explaining the connection to the question posed. In addition, if you have a photograph or short video clip that you feel represents your written response to a given question, please include it. If you choose to include a photograph or video please describe the image and explain how it relates to your written response. Slide #8 is an example of a reflective response with a photograph. Please email your completed survey to rebecca_stanfield_mccown@nps.gov no later than Aug 5th. If the file is too large to send via email, please contact Vanessa Torres or Rebecca for instructions to send the file via a secure large file transfer.

2. Reflections on My Internship Experience: Life in the Grand Tetons 2011 NPS Academy Summer Internship Nara McCray Grand Teton National Park

3. What were the most valuable aspects of your internship experience? It’s so hard to choose just one aspect. So many aspects made this internship remarkable. The expertise I now have in GIS is probably the most marketable aspect of this internship experience. I hope to be able to use GIS and GPS devices in my future career(s). In this photo is me and another intern from the hydrology sector GPS-ing some water valves. Networking with people from all different departments within the park is also a very valuable aspect of my experience here. I have learned so much from my peers and my superiors. I am very lucky to have had the chance to come in contact with everyone I met this summer. Title

4. What were the most challenging aspects of your internship experience? One of the most frustrating things about this summer was having the craving to do EVERYTHING I possibly could while here. Grand Teton National Park is a cornucopia of outdoor activities. The photo captures me Teshina (another SCA intern) and Jazzy (a biotech seasonal) camping in Yellowstone National Park. I learned to boulder and wish I could have done it more. Because of our key position in helping the NPS academy gains upportand insight into the kinks of the program we were responsible for documenting almost everything. This became a bit cumbersome when also having full time NPS duties. Title

5. Please describe your relationship with your mentor: How was your mentor most helpful to you? What challenges did you face with this mentoring relationship? Me and my mentor’s relationship is just beginning to materialize. We have spoken various times but have only gotten together twice at group mentor- mentee parties. My mentor is a very busy woman! But she did attempt to spend time with me this summer. I emailed her requesting that I shadow her for a day we never got the chance to work something out. The biggest challenge was that she was busy, and so was I. Possibly if we had worked in a similar environment we would have come in contact more often. We are going to communicate throughout the school year and I am looking forward to it!

6. How was your understanding of stewardship and related career opportunities broadened as a result of your experience in the program? My experience this summer has heightened my sense of ownership about the outdoors a bit. I do understand the concept of stewardship and how it relates to our parks more after working for Grand Teton National Park this summer. I have also realized that I could potentially try all the careers within the Park Service, before I assumed GIS was the best and only fit for me. I would like to try wildlife, fire, and maybe even interpretation. My outlook has most definitely broadened. This photo of me working, and enjoying what’s been protected for me. Title

7. What knowledge and skills did you gain as a result of your internship? I have gained too many skills and too much information to write(type). The most tangible skill I have gained is GIS. Geographic Information Systems is a essential skill to have in the fields I am interested in. I have yet to take a class in GIS but though my internship this summer I am sure I have learned more about the program than I could learn in any classroom. I have learned so much about the Park Service, how once you get in you can really move anywhere within the government. Also, how hard it is to get a government job. I am thankful I was given this opportunity that is in actuality very difficult to achieve. Along with life lessons of course. This photo is of me learning how to self arrest and belay during an Exum Mountain Snow Safety course. Title