Ellie Payne
Major: NRES & Global Studies
Minor: Sustainable Food & Farming Systems and Political Science
Assistant Crew Lead at Rocky Mountain Conservation Corps.
How did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I learned about Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. from my NRES mentor Freshman year. Her experience prompted me to launch into the Corps. world starting during the summer of 2024 with the Maine Conservation Corps. my experiences here prompted me to apply to be a leader at RMYC to help facilitate the transformational experience I had for others.
How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals? How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?
During my time with RMYC I was able to practice and hone my skills as a leader. I gained a deeper understanding of how to adjust communication to meet group needs, manage a budget, and delegate tasks effectively. My time as a critical thinker in Purdue's College of Liberal Arts allowed me to form creative solutions for group issues, facilitate compromises, and relate to the different lived experiences of my members.
What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?
Try new things and do not limit yourself to just one field. I would encourage my peers to pursue experiences that interest them regardless of whether or not they fit exactly into their career goals. These kinds of experiences will diversify their skills and get them ready for jobs by allowing them to grow and learn what they want to do long-term.
What key responsibilities or tasks have you taken on during your internship?
During my internship I facilitated the learning and growth process of my crew of 10, this included one-on-one check-ins and nightly debriefs for conflict resolution. I also managed our meal planning for each week and the corresponding grocery budget. In addition, I coordinated with project partners to outline project specs and expectations and communicated this with my crew members. For weekends in our 24/7 model, I coordinated group activities, campsites, laundry, and transportation. My favorite Rec weekends were in Leadville, CO where my crew summited Mt. Elbert.
In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our job-ready program specifically aided your professional development?
For the past two summers the Job-Ready program has allowed me to pursue internships that I was passionate about but did not provide typical salaries. With their support I have been able to buy the gear that I needed, book flights to get to Colorado and earlier, Maine, and come out of impactful experiences with savings instead of losing money during my time in the Corps. Being a CLA student has been so impactful for me because it has diversified my frame of thinking from purely environmental in the field to also human-focused. This was especially significant during my time as a leader as much of my job had to do with conflict management and facilitating interpersonal growth.
Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in this program that you find particularly noteworthy?
During my time in RMYC I had the privilege of sleeping and living outside for a consecutive 80 days. When I got my members, it was some of their first times camping let alone backpacking into a living in the backcountry for 8 days at a time. I was so lucky to teach my members about how to live outdoors and to get to know them in such a unique setting.