As JTREE moves to the official first phase in the development of a youth-oriented, residential outdoor education campus in Joshua Tree National Park, they continue to reach out to educators and students for more than simply attending camp. Who better to engage in the formative stages of JTREE’s mission than university students who have been to an outdoor ed camp in their youth, and are currently in the stage of life where their own career paths are developing in the areas of business, education and/or our environment?
To date, much of the work of these students as JTREE interns has contributed to the accomplishments leading us up to Phase I of the project. Rachel Wilken, a recent graduate from the University Redlands with a double-major in Global Business and Environmental Studies, advanced the organization’s business plan. Western Washington University graduate, Aubrey Diehl, majored in Recreation Management and Leadership with an emphasis in Community. During her internship, Aubrey applied her knowledge to outlining the foundation education curriculum and establishing employee management controls including employee orientation, staff compensation strategies and executive and educators’ duties and responsibilities.
Most recently, Bryanna Neagle, a senior in Sustainable Business at University of Redlands, took on JTREE for her Capstone Project. After completing her project, Bryanna stated “I had such an amazing experience as an intern for the Joshua Tree Residential Education Experience. As a Sustainable Business major, it was very beneficial and educational for me to see both the business and the environmental sides of this project. Working to determine the best donor management system, put together grant proposal documents, and update the market study was great preparation and has helped me to develop skills that will be useful for a future career in the sustainable business sector. Weekly meetings with members of the JTREE board also gave me a better understanding of a business environment and I am very grateful to have been a part of them. Being able to contribute to a project with such a great cause has been an amazing experience and I am so happy I got the opportunity to help out.”
As Bryanna commented, this is a win-win situation. Students fulfill their own curriculum requirements and gain valuable hands-on experience all while helping JTREE advance their organizations goals.
Each intern is mentored by two JTREE Board Members who develop their workplans and guide the students through completion of each task. Mark Butler, Vice-Chair of JTREE and Katie Sandberg, Board Member, co-mentored Bryanna.
According to Mark, “As JTREE’s most recent intern, Bryanna provided tremendous support and assistance for the organization. With her advanced academic background and personal experience, she accomplished three very important tasks: she researched nonprofit donor management systems, updated documents for future grant applications, and completed preparations to update JTREE’s market study. Her work in each of these three areas will significantly improve and provide a long-lasting benefit to JTREE’s fundraising and financial management programs. All of us involved with the
First quarter of 2021 begins with University of Redlands Environmental Studies class taking on JTREE for their Sustainable Business Development Project. The workplan for this class, led by Professor James Spee, includes updating to the Business Plan, complete a Market Study of Feasibility, and propose a strategic plan for Marketing. Students will work with a designated JTREE Board Member on each task.
Yet another student of Professor Spee, Everett Perisits chose JTREE for his School of Business Bachelor of Science in Management Capstone Project. The focus of Everett’s project for JTREE will be in the area of Grants.
The JTREE Board of Directors is thrilled at the excitement and participation these students have expressed in our mission. Their hard work and dedication advances JTREE one step at a time towards the goal of multi-day outdoor education in Joshua Tree National Park. Likewise, JTREE’s hard work and dedication promotes stewards of tomorrow one step at a time.
