Post by Olivia DeStefano

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Bark, a non-profit environmental organization focused on the protection and restoration of Mt. Hood National Forest, thanks to the Summer Internship Award through the Center for Life Beyond Reed.  During my time with Bark, I worked on collaborative forestry initiatives, threatened beaver habitat protection, community science data collection, and educational outreach.   I was fortunate to be able to celebrate Bark’s 25th Birthday this summer, opening my eyes to the role that history plays in organizational identity, ideals, and engagement.  To further community involvement, I took on the project of creating a digital archive of Bark’s historical achievements, spanning from the blocking of the Palomar Pipeline to the revising of federal timber sales.  This digital archive includes important documents and photos of their history, giving context to what Bark is today.  This archive will unlock storytelling capabilities, meant to be shared with volunteers, stakeholders, and collaborators to drive community investment in Bark’s goals.  Thank you to the team at Bark and thank you to the Center for Life Beyond Reed for making this opportunity possible.