Sam Maves

Wilderness and Park Management
Minnesota North – Vermilion

I chose Vermilion so I could go into the Wilderness and Parks Management program. This program has helped me start setting up my career in parks and recreation. I am from Elk River Minnesota. My experience at Vermilion and within my program has been great! I love the smaller campus atmosphere, the teaching feels a lot more personal than in high school, which has led to academic success. My favorite memory is the first week of school when I was adjusting to the campus, getting to know all of my roommates, and making friends here that have lasted since our first week here. I would encourage students thinking about choosing Vermilion to look over our website and to set up a campus and housing tour to see if it is a good feel or a good fit for them.

Kelsey Aasness

Wilderness and Park Management
Minnesota North – Vermilion

Education & experience
I spent my first two seasons during my time at Vermilion working for the MN Conservation Corps, then the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Colorado. After graduating from Vermilion, I accepted a Wilderness/Trails job in California, where after I went to Alaska and spent the winter dogsledding, and then spent two seasons as a trail maintenance work lead and education program coordinator in the cascades of Oregon. I am doing part-time online schooling through Oregon State University for a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources.

Current employer 
US Forest Service; I bleed green.

Position
Seasonal Park Ranger. I spend my days hiking popular trails, leading and performing environmental interpretation programs, or coordinating community events to teach the public the importance of land management.

Favorite Vermilion memory
Getting out in the woods with Wilderness Club. I miss all the amazing people I got so close with during our trail work and land stewardship events. And, of course, all the Boundary Waters adventures.