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Candace Rossman, an intern with the Student
Conservation Association Fire Education Corps, spent six months
interning with the National Park Service at Flagstaff Area
Monuments (Wupatki NM, Sunset Crater NM, and Walnut Canyon
NM). She began in June 2004 and for the first few months was
busy with prevention education activities within the Monuments.
She gave presentations on forest health, the life of a firefighter,
the history and geology of Sunset Crater Volcano, and even
held a birthday party for Smokey Bear with 40 singing campers!
Outside of the Monument, she coordinated
efforts with the Coconino National Forest's Public Information
Officer to bring programs about fire prevention/ecology education
to the Junior Foresters from Northern Arizona University,
as well as students from the Indian Tribal Environmental Program.
This was a great learning opportunity for them, as there was
a lightening caused fire that was burning east of Flagstaff
that was not threatening any human, natural, or cultural resources.
Therefore, the USFS was allowing it to be "contained"
or allow the bum to happen. This event provided a perfect
backdrop for contextual discussion about the history of suppression
in the United States.
In September and October 2004, Candace began
work on a Fire and Fuels Management Plan for the Flagstaff
Area Monuments. This Plan will not only enable the Flagstaff
Area Monuments to be within national guidelines, but will
begin to plan around restoring the area's natural cycles as
well as creating protection for human life, natural and cultural
resources. She was amazed with how much the Flagstaff area
fire entities “work together to accomplish these goals,
surrounded by the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world
that is so unhealthy and primed for catastrophic wildfire.”
During the same time period, she was also
performing in-school presentations (lessons) on fire ecology,
the science of fire itself, and a bit of forestry. Candace
says, “I have to say this was by far the most rewarding
time of my internship. Being an ex-teacher, I have missed
the interaction with students that leads to a feeling of accomplishment.
I developed the lesson myself with the help of various resources,
and delivered it at a public elementary school, private middle
school, as well as a Montessori school. The presentation was
well-received in all schools, with nothing but positive comments
from the students and teachers.”
Candace had some words of wisdom she hoped
to pass along.
“I hope that you understand
how important these opportunities are not only for the intern,
but for the communities we work in. Myself, this community,
the agency (NPS), and other fire agencies have been helped
by our combined commitment."
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