Last week, ESLT summer intern Jessie O’Dell joined Ali and Sara – ESLT’s AmeriCorps Members and Education Coordinators – for some fun in the field, removing invasive Bull thistle from the Benton Ponds.
This summer, Eastern Sierra Land Trust has some extra help around the office and in the field. We are thrilled to welcome Claire Jellison and Jessie O’Dell to the ESLT family as summer interns! Both of these inspiring young ladies grew up right here in the Eastern Sierra, and they are excited to make an impact in their community by working with ESLT to protect the Eastern Sierra’s iconic landscapes.
Born and raised in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, Claire Jellison has enjoyed this unique and beautiful area her full 16 years. Claire especially enjoys cruising along the Owens River, gliding over Saunder’s Ponds, and hiking to high Sierra lakes in her free time. She is excited to help preserve this diverse and scenic area by working with ESLT this summer.
Claire appreciates how spending time outdoors not only makes one an expert mosquito killer, but also provides an ideal mental respite.
Claire has been very involved with the Bishop community, having participated in the Bishop Stingrays, AYSO (both as a player and a referee), and Playhouse 395. Some of her favorite things about Bishop are the magnificent sunsets, the eccentric people, and the small businesses all within a ten-minute bike ride.
Claire is currently a junior in high school, and is particularly interested in her science and history classes. Working with ESLT, she hopes to learn more about native plant and animal species, and help to preserve this special place.
Jessie O’Dell grew up in Swall Meadows, right next door to some of ESLT’s first conservation easements. From an early age, Jessie fell in love with the Eastern Sierra’s unique landscape and community, and took advantage of the plethora of outdoor activities available to a curious young Eastsider like herself. Enthusiastic about becoming a steward of the beautiful lands that inspired her interest in the outdoors, Jessie was eager to learn more about ESLT’s work when she was in high school. She became an intern with the land trust during the summers of 2010 and 2011 under the guidance of AmeriCorps members Sarah Spano and Hillary Behr, and she is delighted to return to intern again with ESLT this summer.
Jessie O’Dell worked with ESLT back in 2010 and 2011 as a high school summer intern. Now she’s a junior in college at Brown University, and we are thrilled to welcome her back!
Jessie is currently a junior at Brown University majoring in International Relations and Environmental Studies. She will be studying abroad in Havana, Cuba in the fall and hopes to spend time exploring the country’s unique relationship with environmentalism while working on improving her Spanish. She is excited to learn more about the processes involved in land conservation, and will be assisting ESLT with research on potential grant opportunities. She is also looking forward to spending free time this summer hiking and gardening with her family and two dogs.
We encourage you to stop by the ESLT office to meet Claire and Jessie and thank them for their commitment to the Eastern Sierra!
