Meet Our Spring 2023 Land Conservation Apprentices
It’s a new semester for our Land Conservation Apprenticeship program! Originally piloted in the Summer of 2021 with the support of the Benwood Foundation, Reflection Riding’s goal has been to create a green jobs pipeline by instructing young adults in hands-on land conservation work. Since that summer, our apprenticeship program has expanded as we’ve continued to recruit apprentices to work on invasive plant removal and restoration projects using native plants on our campus. Several of our apprentices have gone on to work for us in part-time and full-time positions, or have gone on to other amazing outdoor and conservation jobs. You can read about some of our apprentice’s experiences, like Mayson, Madison or Brianna, and find out more about what they learned and enjoyed doing as an apprentice.
Read more below to get to know our Spring 2023 Apprentices:
Meredith Woodward
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
I am working on my Master's degree in Environmental Science. I have always had a deep love and appreciation for nature and the beauty it provides us along with the opportunities it allows us to learn from.
I became an apprentice here at Reflection Riding so I could learn more about native plants, land management, and what we can do to better support natural environments as well as other things that our nursery and nature center support. I'm more than excited to become a part of a community that is all about learning, cultivating, and supporting each other and local biodiversity.
Sarah Jane Myers
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
My name is Sarah Jane, or SJ! I am currently in my senior year at UTC. I am studying Outdoor Recreation Management. I found Reflection Riding through my major and knew that I wanted to apprentice with them. Their dedication to education and conservation embody what I value and hope to provide throughout my work.
Cecilia Latimer
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
I chose Reflection Riding because I was interested to see how much I could learn with all of the different opportunities offered, as well as how that information can help me in my future career.
Matthew Davis
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
I am a senior at UTC majoring in environmental science with a focus on biodiversity, conservation, and natural resources. I am doing the apprenticeship to get some hands on experience in a possible career field and to deeper explore my hobby of plant care!
This semester, our apprentices are focusing on how we run our Native Plant Nursery: they are learning the ins and outs of our day-to-day operations like potting, sowing seeds, keeping up with inventory, and preparing for opening. They’ve been working since January and will be with us until April 29th, so make sure to say hello if you see them on campus!
From left to right: Sarah Jane Myers (apprentice), Brianna Taylor (former apprentice & naturalist), Madison Roberts (former apprentice & nursery assistant), Haley Hamblen (Nursery Manager), Paige Powell (Volunteer Coordinator), Cecilia Latimer (apprentice), and Hannah Rodehaver (former apprentice & naturalist). We’ve had several former apprentices join our staff!
