When Clare Waldoch was growing up in Elk River, Minnesota, she didn’t imagine she’d one day be helping fight wildfires from the ground- supporting aircraft that scoop thousands of gallons of water from lakes to douse flames. But for her, the path to purpose was anything but predictable.

“I didn’t have a strong force guiding me to environmental work or schooling at 18,” Clare recalls. “Although, my dad always called me ‘the nature girl.’”

It was a friend, Kristina Rands, who first introduced her to Minnesota North College, Vermilion. After visiting Kristina on campus, Clare was hooked. “I decided to apply for the same program she did (Fisheries and Wildlife Management) and started the semester after her. I’m glad I did it.”

Living in the metro area had its struggles. “In my later years of high school, I found myself seeking trouble and hadn’t rallied the most influential group of friends,” she says. “I attribute my attending Minnestoa North and the setting of Ely for helping me find my moral integrity again and getting me back on track.”

The transition to college life was made easier by the welcoming community she found in Vermilion Hall. “We had a very accepting group of girls in our dorm room,” she says. “Some moments I remember were stringing hammocks from the ceiling beams in the fireside lounge, cookouts with our hallway neighbors, and evening bonfires out front.”

It was in Vermilion’s wildland fire classes that Clare’s passion truly ignited. “The two classes that really piqued my interest were wildland fire-based, particularly when we were doing hose lays and learning to operate chainsaws,” she says. “Hands-on, problem-solving, and outdoor classes were my favorite.”

After graduation, she followed that spark into the world of fire aviation. For four years, she loaded fire retardant into Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), supporting pilots as they flew into danger zones. That experience led her to her current role as Mobile Repair Unit Support Driver for Bridger Aerospace.

Today, Clare supports a fleet of amphibious aircraft known as Super Scoopers—planes that skim across lakes to collect over 1,400 gallons of water before releasing it over wildfires. Her job? Keeping the aircraft flying.

“I transport and maintain the Mobile Repair Unit (MRU), a 45-foot enclosed trailer containing everything an aircraft mechanic may need to repair a Super Scooper,” she explains. “Having a fully stocked MRU is a crucial part of our operation during the fire season.”

One moment that stands out came during a fire in Oregon. A Super Scooper was grounded due to a mechanical issue. “The part we needed was in Bozeman, Montana. Within hours, I was on a commercial flight with the part in hand. The aircraft was flying again that evening. It was gratifying to help get it back in the air.”

Now, a decade after her college days, Clare is back in Ely. She is part of a team protecting the region she once explored as a student. “The aircraft are available to work anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, so the likelihood I’d come back to Ely was slim, but never impossible,” she says. “The best part of being back has been the unplanned meeting of old friends in the park, grocery stores, or on the streets of downtown.”

To those just starting their journey, Clare offers this advice: “Find a career that gets you fired up! If you are proud of what you’re doing, you will undoubtedly perform better.”

And for anyone still searching for their path? “Don’t settle for a mundane career; challenge yourself. Some people take a lifetime to find a career that checks all their boxes, so don’t give up the search.”