PPeeps, I was a longtime resident of Enumclaw and had paddled in the Puget Sound area for a few years before moving in June of 2012 to the Gorge (Underwood - at the mouth of the White Salmon). Life is great and my paddling life has never been better.

I work for a local non-profit out of Trout Lake called the Mt. Adams Institute. Our mission is to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, employment, and research. I run a program called VetsWork which is a career transition program for U.S. military veterans interested in natural resources/public lands management. With funding through AmeriCorps we have developed 11-month paid internships with the US Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, National Parks, Oregon State Parks, and some local government agencies in Oregon and Washington.

Developing the positions is only half the battle. We are now looking for veterans between the ages of 21 and 35 with an interest in this career field. I am comfortable in the natural resources world, but am new to the veteran culture. I'm asking for your help in reaching out to friends, relatives, and other contacts to get this information into the hands of our target audience.

The latest statistics show that national unemployment is at 7%. Post 9/11 veterans are at about 10% and our target population (21-35 year old vets) is at about 15%. We have a program designed to support the transition from the military culture to the civilian workforce culture and believe that we can make a dent in this statistic while supporting our mission of connecting people in a meaningful way to their natural environment. It is our belief that you are more likely to think sustainably about something you truly care about. And with greater understanding comes greater concern for our world.

Here's how to reach me and find out more if you or anyone you know is interested:

email: programs@mtadamsinstitute.com
www.mtadamsinstitute.com/jobs

Thanks for your help. SYOTR
Aaron