We are getting back in the saddle again!
Photo of our interns Claire and Chase with David Lile setting up grazing exclusion cages in the Southern Warner Mountains.
Devil’s Garden Research and Education (DGRE) is dedicated to teaching others about agriculture and natural resources in Northeastern California. It is our mission to provide science based management solutions and hands-on experiences to improve the lives of Californians. Part of this mission is preparing the next generation of land managers and connecting them with new experiences that help prepare them for careers in agriculture and natural resources. This year, DGRE hired two summer interns and one six month intern to work on a variety of projects.
Claire, Chase, and Rachael are passionate about agriculture and natural resources. They look forward to providing research material for you to make management decisions. This group is very diverse in their studies and stories. We hope you enjoy learning more about their background and who they are.
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You can learn more about each intern and what their internship entails below:
Meet Claire Bjork
Claire Bjork grew up in Santa Barbara, California and graduated from UC Davis in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. Claire is interested in a career at the intersection of science communication and watershed management, and is passionate about finding science based solutions that balance the needs of communities and the environment.
As an undergraduate, Claire interned with the waterway stewardship internship through the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden where she developed a deep appreciation for the way water shapes our communities and later helped produce the Water Talk Podcast. In her free time, Claire enjoys reading, hiking and horseback riding. She is also an avid gardener, and hopes to cultivate a thriving vegetable garden this summer.
Claire is excited to spend her internship working on the development of the Big Valley groundwater sustainability plan through which she hopes to build lasting connections with stakeholders in Modoc County and adjacent areas. She also has been enjoying working out in the field on various ongoing projects including those related to drought monitoring and livestock grazing.
Meet Chase Bergeron
Chase Bergeron is one of our Summer 2021 interns. He was raised in Hermosa Beach, California, and enjoys hiking, fishing, and surfing with friends and family. Chase is going into his senior year at Texas Tech University and is majoring in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Range Conservation. He is a member of the Wildlife Society at Texas Tech and is a research assistant with the E.L. Reed Herbarium. Chase spent his last three summers working in construction as a general laborer and intern.
This opportunity provides first-hand experience to interact with the various constituents that impact the management of natural resources. He looks forward to observing the interface between policy and stakeholders as well as deepening his knowledge about agricultural processes. Chase is also very excited to explore the Modoc National Forest and surrounding areas of the high desert through camping, hiking, and fishing.
Meet Rachael Stucke
Rachael Stucke is a seasonal research intern for 2021. During her time as an intern, she will be working on a variety of projects surrounding livestock, range, and natural resource management.
She is originally from San Mateo, CA and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a
minor in Sustainable Agriculture at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Rachael has been highly involved in different enterprise courses within her college department, where she got hands on experience with a variety of livestock. Most recently was a student manager at the Cal Poly Sheep and Goat Unit, where she was responsible for herd health and grazing management. After college, she is planning either continuing her education through a master’s degree or pursuing a career involving sustainable livestock management and research.
During the course of the internship, Rachael is looking forward to building on her research skills surrounding data collection and monitoring of natural resources in an agricultural setting. Additionally, she is very excited to spend her free time exploring all the outdoor recreation in northeast California through hiking and camping
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We look forward to learning from our peers at Devil’s Garden and Research Education and providing you with the resources needed to nurture our changing environment. We hope to hear from you and if you happen to swing by our office, make sure to say hello!
Photo of (from left to right) Rachael, Claire,
and Chase (plus Banjo!) at Lily Lake in the
Warner Mountains.