Welcome New Interns!

Hello! My name is Joel Breems, and I am the new Habitat Restoration Assistant here at SFEG. I am an individual placement with the Washington Conservation Corps and have been working at SFEG since October 4th. My interest and background are in erosion control and restoration. I graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2001 with a degree in Environmental Studies and History. Since then I have been working in the restoration field in various capacities, first as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. During my two years there I worked with local farmers in the High Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech to improve farming practices, reduce soil loss, stabilize hillsides, and restore native plants. After returning from Morocco I began working with family friends on an apple orchard in Lynden called BelleWood Acres because they were very involved in salmon restoration. That was a great opportunity, which led me to find a position as a WCC crewmember restoring salmon habitat within the city of Bellingham. My future plans are to enroll in graduate school in fall 2005 to pursue a degree in restoration planning and management. It is with that goal in mind that I found this position with SFEG. I plan to use this coming year to gain experience in all aspects of habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest. I am excited about working with SFEG and look forward to meeting and working with as many local residents and restoration enthusiasts as possible. Please feel free to contact me at joel@skagitfisheries.org if you would like to find out how SFEG can work with you to improve salmon habitat in your area.
Thank you and I look forward to meeting all of you.

Joel (left) in Morocco

Laura on Bellingham Bay

Hi there! My name is Laura Clemmer and I have the privilege to be the new Education and Outreach Assistant for SFEG. Starting October 1st, I have been working with SFEG as an individual placement for the Washington Service Corps, a division of the Americorps program. I am very excited at the opportunity that I have been given to make a difference in this community. Although I consider this beautiful area of the country my home, I have lived in many places throughout my life: Illinois, Germany, Virginia, Indiana, and eastern Washington. Animals and the environment have been a life-long love, and in 2001 I earned my Bachelor's degree in Zoology at Western Washington University. I've had a lot of interesting jobs and experiences in my life that have led me to where I am today. I got involved in education about two years ago, when I worked as an intern through the Student Conservation Association as a raptor rehabilitator and park naturalist in southern Indiana. After that, I worked at a YMCA camp in Puget Sound as an outdoor environmental educator. I have also had some stints as a muralist since that time, art being another one of my interests. My home base has remained in Bellingham, though, so ever since graduation I was ever looking for something 'closer to home.' After a long search, that opportunity came to me in the field of salmon habitat enhancement. In my short time here, I have already learned, seen, and done much. To name a few things: I have helped plan "River Awareness Day" at the Children's Museum of Skagit County, I have taught classes at the Skagit Watershed Education Program (SWEP), I have helped organize stream cleanups and planting parties, I have helped update the website (thanks to Laurie Adams, our volunteer website designer) with summaries and pictures of what we've been up to lately, I have looked at ways of expanding our Stream Stewards program, I have familiarized myself with and have come up with new ideas for the WILD Salmon Education Trunk, and I have gone out on numerous site visits and spawning surveys. Each day is a learning experience. I consider one of the greatest things about my job to be the people I work with: my co-workers, the people from other agencies we work with, community members, and the amazing people that volunteer their time and energy to the work that SFEG does. I thank you for this opportunity and look forward to seeing more of you all.