Hey guys!
I’m Evan, another of the original Youth Delegates (da youths!). I am an untraditional Delegate in that unlike the other delegates that were chosen by their activity within the National Wildlife Refuge System, I won the photo contest that the conference hosted. I hail from the land of Leopold (Wisconsin) where I have lived my entire life. I’m a junior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison where I am majoring in the Biological Aspects of Conservation and Environmental Studies.
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| Mrs. Chybowski and I on a Prairie White Fringed Orchid survey |
I realized my passion for conservation as a junior in high school when I took AP Environmental Science with a truly inspiring teacher. She recognized my potential and went out of her way to cultivate my interest. With her help I got an internship with The Nature Conservancy that summer which opened many doors for me. That’s how it all started.
I study Conservation now because it’s fun. When I’m in school I get to go on lots of field trips, learn about our environment, and study outside. I’m taught about concepts in the classroom and then get to go outside to apply what I just learned. When I’m not in school and have a job or internship, I often stop to look around only to see some of the most beautiful scenery - scenery including plants, animals, and ecosystems that many people will never be lucky enough to see!
I think conservation is an incredibly important area of study because it is a young science and will only become more and more important with increased urbanization, climate change, and demand for natural resources. As a conservationist and future wildlife biologist, I want to help our humankind meet those needs with as little damage to the environment and the sustainability of our own society as possible. -Evan
