NEWS Archive

September 2002 News

Meet WildLink's New Expedition Leader

Hello! My name is Jocelyn Gretz and I am the new WildLink expedition leader for the 2002-03 school year. I am employed by the Student Conservation Association as well as the National Forest Service and Park Service for this position.

I have recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Biology and a certificate in Environmental Studies. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge of our natural ecosystems with the students, but am really excited about what I can learn from the students that participate in the WildLink expeditions.

I have limited experiences in what most people would define as wilderness areas but have often found refuge in natural areas and parks of much smaller size and greater human impact. Although these places were not as sublime as the Sierra Nevada's, they did offer an escape from the concrete jungle and fast-paced life of the city, no matter how small the size of the park.

I am excited to be able to link students with wilderness areas that they have never seen, and hope that they take home an appreciation not only for the importance of wilderness areas, but will also value the smaller parks and reserves that they can find in their neighborhoods.

New Expedition Leader, continued...

This is my first time in California and I feel quite honored to be able to call Yosemite my first home here. Although I've seen many photographs of the scenic park and have read passages about it, nothing can surpass the first view I got as I descended into the valley. Every time I get outside I cannot help but look up at the famous facades of Half Dome and El Capitan formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, I cannot help but imagine the waterfalls filled with spring snowmelt, I cannot contain my excitement to explore the park myself.

I am looking forward to a year of education: for the students, myself, teachers and all others affiliated with this program. If you have any questions about this program, please feel free to contact me.

If you would like to read my journal entries click here.

WHAT'S with the new website design???
WildLink has a new look! Thanks to Matt Moore and Stinkbait.net. Some of the links will still lead you to pages with the old design, so be prepared...

See Jamie's Goodbye