August 19, 2019

New SOC Intern!

Written by

Ben Schoffstall

I was born in Sandy, Utah, a city located along the Wasatch Front. However, I grew up in Clayton, California which is similar to Sandy, it also has a close approximation to wilderness and areas of nature. Growing up I was very connected to nature, I had a passion for collecting and identifying insects, exploring local trails, and visiting National and State Parks. Throughout high school and college, I enjoyed many outdoor activities including: cycling, swimming, hiking, backpacking, and competitive cross country running. I was also a member of Boy Scouts and through this experience I had the opportunity to hike the entire John Muir Trail, a 211 mile trail, which exposed me to breathtaking landmarks and landscapes in several wilderness areas along the Sierra Nevada mountain range.  It was through my Boy Scouts of America experience, especially the journey leading up to earning the rank of Eagle Scout, that really inspired me to want to protect the environment, including its natural resources and spaces. Eventually, preserving our environment became one my central passions, and an education and career goal.

I attended my local community college, Diablo Valley College, where I earned two Associate’s Degrees, one in Political Science and another in Natural Science. This fall I will be attending the University of California at Santa Cruz where I will be working to obtain a degree in Environmental Studies combined with Biology.

I am extremely grateful that I was selected as an intern for Save Our Canyons, because their mission and staff are very motivating and inspiring. Furthermore, I am getting experience related to my studies, and am witnessing how environmental organizations identify, approach, and advocate environmental issues. This experience will truly be beneficial to local wilderness areas, my future, and hopefully to Save Our Canyons.

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