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Category: Careers Outdoors

My non-traditional pathway to my career as a Conservation Warden

por Lt. Juan Gómez

Greetings! I’m Lt. Juan Gómez with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). I have worked as a conservation warden (law enforcement officer) for the state of Wisconsin since 2008 and would like to tell you about my non-traditional pathway to my career as a conservation warden.

I was born and raised in Chicago and grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood known for its crime, drugs and violence during the 80s and 90s. By age 11, I had my fair share of gang exposure and witnessed criminal activity daily. But my family knew one thing; they didn’t want me to get involved with drugs or with local gangs, so they sent me off to a recreational youth camp in northern Wisconsin that summer.

As a city kid, this was my first exposure to the outdoors, where I engaged in fishing, camping, canoeing and hiking activities. My love for the outdoors grew immensely because of that summer camp, and when I turned 16, I even became a camp counselor. These experiences led me to pursue a degree in Recreation Management at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

My summer camp adventures brought about my love for the outdoors. But it was my college days that led me to my career with the Wisconsin DNR.

“My love for the outdoors grew immensely because of that summer camp”

During my freshman year of college, I was heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving break. At the same time, Wisconsin was holding its traditional 9-day deer firearm hunting season that starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ends the Sunday after the holiday.

During my ride home from Wisconsin, I couldn’t help but notice all the deer being transported on or in vehicles. This was an unusual view for a city kid whose only exposure to wildlife was a view from Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

When I returned to school the following week, I met with my advisor at the campus multicultural office. I told him about the surprising sight I saw. and he filled me in on the famed Wisconsin deer hunting tradition. The following spring, I enrolled in a Hunter Safety course and participated in my first deer hunt that fall.

In Wisconsin, Hunter Safety courses are offered and put together by volunteer instructors. Alongside these instructors, conservation wardens are available to answer general questions from the public and provide updates on the rules and regulations.

Following the Hunter Safety course, I began researching conservation warden positions available in Wisconsin and found myself more and more passionate about the career. After participating in ride-alongs with various conservation wardens to learn more about their day-to-day work educating people and enforcing laws, I began applying for warden jobs.

In 2008, I was hired fulltime as a Wisconsin DNR conservation warden and have loved every minute of it. Conservation wardens are responsible for protecting natural resources and ensuring the safety of everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Conservation wardens investigate hunting, fishing, environmental, and recreational vehicle violations and rely heavily on the relationships they build in their communities to successfully fulfill their duties.

“Following the Hunter Safety course, I began researching conservation warden positions available in Wisconsin and found myself more and more passionate about the career”.

Throughout my career, I have made it a point to work with others who have had limited exposure to the outdoors. I have organized several Learn to Hunt events exposing families to new hunting traditions. These events have been a great way for me to connect with those who are new to hunting or other outdoor sports.

Conservation wardens are the face of the Wisconsin DNR within the communities they serve. We typically open our hiring process in April each year, and 2021 is no exception. We are looking for great candidates and hope you are able to relate to my experiences and consider applying for a position with the Wisconsin DNR.

  • There are many skills and abilities we look for in warden applicants, such as:
  • A passion for helping people and protecting our natural resources
  • Honesty, integrity, self-motivation, curiosity, confidence and professionalism
  • An ability to self-direct daily work activities in an efficient and accountable manner
  • An interest in community-involvement and problem-solving
  • A desire to communicate with and serve the diverse people of Wisconsin

Explore our warden recruitment website to learn more and sign up for hiring updates! https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WardenRecruitment

It’s amazing to know that all it takes is an experience or two to help guide us through our life journeys. Had I not reached out to my mentor about my experience that freshman year I would have never been exposed to the “local warden”. My interaction with the local warden that day sparked my interest in the career of natural resource protection and has led me to creating many outdoor memories with my family. I am truly blessed to spend time with my family enjoying the resources I protect.

A Change in Perspective

por Esme Plascencia

I felt a turn in the tide when I changed my major to Outdoor Recreation. I did not learn about Outdoor Recreation as a field of study until my second year of college. A family friend asked me, “Hey Esme, have you thought about studying Parks and Rec?” I was quite appalled that I had no clue that the activities I loved to do most were part of something bigger or could be part of a field of study. When I started college, I declared Photography as my major as I enjoyed photographing people and places.

“Hey Esme, have you thought about studying Parks and Rec?”

I grew up in Fort Bragg, CA, a popular tourist town along the California coast, where I would spend hours at the beach photographing the landscapes and sunsets. During my high school years, I took portraits of friends for their senior portraits and started a Facebook page of my photography so that people could see my work and refer me to their friends. It was a “side hustle” that I started for myself and one of my first experiences in entrepreneurship. Soon after, friends from my hometown started asking me if I could photograph them for their Quinceañeras! It felt fulfilling to be present for other people during their ceremony. It is truly a blessing to be able to capture the precious moments of a special occasion.

When we go through life changes, we can almost intuitively sense that we are passing into a new chapter of our lives; I certainly felt that when I changed my major. After practicing photography as a job, I realized that I did not want to do that for a living. I did not like the aspect of sitting behind a computer for hours editing pictures. I just wanted to be outside every opportunity that I got! My favorite part of photography was being outside and just being in the moment. It will always be a part of me, and I will still practice my skills when I get the chance.

This past summer, I was able to practice my photography skills on Black Oystercatchers. I used my 75-300 mm telephoto lens to capture close images of the birds. My observation partner, Dave, guided me towards all the spots where the Black Oystercatchers would be nesting over the summer to lay their eggs, feed, and care for their young. There were about seven different pairs of Black Oystercatchers we would visit weekly. Tracking the weather, seasonal changes, and the state of the Black Oystercatchers’ nests as the chicks grew offered quite a unique experience.

It all began when I was invited by my family friend to volunteer with California State Parks for this Audubon Bird Survey.

It all began when I was invited by my family friend to volunteer with California State Parks for this Audubon Bird Survey. The orientation meeting was held at the California State Russian Gulch Recreation Center, where I learned that this was the ninth year that the Bird Survey was going strong. There were several people who were experienced and some for whom it was their first time, such as myself. As I sat and listened to the presentation about Black Oystercatchers, I learned about the different behavior patterns of the birds and how to navigate along the coast to spot the birds. As I looked around, I found I was not only one of the youngest people in the room but also the only person of color.

As I looked around, I found I was not only one of the youngest people in the room but also the only person of color.

This had not been the first time that this occurred to me. I was used to this in the field, though I do not always feel comfortable in these moments. Yet I know deep in my soul that it is in these moments that personal growth happens. When I step outside of my own perspective to learn from others and about myself, I begin to understand the barriers that hold me or others like me back from these types of experiences. It may be time, finances, or not having the resources to try something new. It is not always easy for people to commit themselves to something outside of their own knowledge or understanding. It takes courage, which is something I believe every person has. Some just need a little guidance to realize their potential.

As the young Black Oystercatchers go through different stages in their life and learn to survive and grow in the environment around them, so too do people.

As the young Black Oystercatchers go through different stages in their life and learn to survive and grow in the environment around them, so too do people. We all need someone to guide us, and it takes time and commitment. Although it is now winter, when I go outside on a walk to the coastal trails I sometimes hear and listen to the call of the Black Oyster. They remind me of the sunny days and the definition of resilience. If they can survive the cold and harsh tides, then so can we.

Esme Plascencia is a first generation immigrant and college student. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico and raised in Fort Bragg, California. Upon graduating Fort Bragg High School, she moved to Sacramento to start her journey in higher education at Sacramento State University. She is currently a senior student majoring in Recreational Parks and Tourism Administration and aspires to become an outdoor educator/guide.

Finding my true calling

por Sebastian Moreno

My parents were born in Colombia and moved to the United States when they were teenagers. Because they had me in their early 20s, they had to grow up incredibly fast. I was born New York City and when I was 12, my parents decided it was more affordable to live in a house in Pennsylvania than cram four people in a one-bedroom apartment in the city. Growing up in a city and moving to the woods was a big change for me. I didn’t really appreciate living in the middle of a forest. I did spend a lot of my time in the backyard, but never exploring the four miles of uninterrupted forest behind our house. It was only when I reached high school that I began exploring the outdoors with my friends

After high school, I went to college to pursue a degree in pharmacy. Honestly, how I decided to pursue a career in pharmacy is still a mystery. Looking back, I think I chose that career because, as a pharmacist, I would be helping people, which is something I have always enjoyed. Also, I was pretty excited that I would be making a lot of money one day. What 18-year-old doesn’t love that idea?

“While I was on my hikes, I found myself asking all these how and why questions pertaining to nature.”

Sebastian Moreno

Pharmacy school sucked for me. I felt like I didn’t fit in with my peers and the classes were a total drag. I sabotaged my grade by not studying and putting in the effort to do well in classes. Due to my poor academic standing, I was kicked out of the pharmacy program. I found myself without any real direction and not quite sure what I wanted to do with life. I found solace being outside. I took this time to clear my head and think about what my next steps were going to be.

While I was on my hikes, I found myself asking all these how and why questions pertaining to nature. This piqued my interest and after talking to a few professors in the biology department, they suggested I take a population and evolutionary biology course. I really wasn’t sure what I would be learning but I figured what was the worst that could happen?

I loved the course, my peers, and my professors! Everything I was learning made sense to me. I was engaged in the classroom and my grades were significantly improving. My professors saw the eagerness in me, and I was presented with ecological research opportunities. First, I worked in a lab looking at squirrels and acorn dispersal. Although it was fun and interesting, I really wasn’t interested in working with small mammals. I then started working in a lab that studied birds. There, I learned valuable field work techniques and basic ecological concepts.

“My thesis looked at how large concentrations of urban vacant lots in St. Louis impact bird diversity. While working in this city, I was exposed to more than just birds.”

Sebastian Moreno

From my time in this lab, I knew I loved ecology and birds. But that was about it. I wasn’t quite sure where I saw myself working nor did I feel like I had enough experience to find a decent job. Graduate school seemed like a good way to continue improving my knowledge, skills, and narrowing my interests. I decided to pursue a master’s degree. My thesis looked at how large concentrations of urban vacant lots in St. Louis impact bird diversity. While working in this city, I was exposed to more than just birds. I got a first-hand experience of social and environmental injustices. This opened my eyes to a whole new world of ecology I was not familiar with. Although it was a bit too late to change my thesis, I knew my next chapter in life would incorporate these new interests. Again, with my newly found interests, I felt like I didn’t have enough experience to qualify for the jobs I was interested in. So back to school it was for me! Currently, I am pursuing a PhD. My goal is to mix my interests of birds, people, urban areas, and ecology together to create a project. While conducting my research, I also want to serve urban communities by connecting them with nature and empowering them to create positive changes within their community.

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Sebastian Moreno is a second year PhD student at the University of Massachusetts. He is interested in the intersection between wildlife and people. Sebastian‘s research looks to improve on the community science experience and lower the barriers that may prevent underrepresented individuals from participating in such programs. When he is not working on his dissertation, Sebastian is outside hiking, birding, or practicing falconry with his American Kestrel.