Each year, at about the first week of April, the active RMFI staff team almost doubles in size as our Field Staff members return to Colorado Springs from various winter pursuits (or perhaps, awaken from hibernation). It is an exciting time in the office and in local project areas as we gear-up and orient for upcoming field projects. 

Ever wonder about the background, training and certification a RMFI staff member has when working with you out on a field project? At RMFI we are thrilled about our staff members who are out in the field and where the action is; working with our great volunteers and with our great youth corps partners. Thrilled with their infectious passion for conservation and their considerable talent because, after all, you deserve our best!

Our Field Staff typically come from a diverse set of backgrounds; truly a strength which RMFI values, but they share a few special things in common:

Youth Corps Experience.  More than half of RMFI Field Staff members (over the past 5 years) have extensive experience serving in a youth corps organization, usually an organization under the “AmeriCorps” family. Some of these include Mile High Youth Corps, Nevada Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience, National Civilian Community Corps, VISTA, and City Year. These programs continue to be a great way for young adults (often 18-24 years of age) to gain work experience in conservation and education-focused fields, work with others from different backgrounds, and to earn college financial awards. Staff joining us from other areas of the country bring with them new conservation techniques and expertise that often may be adapted to the environmental conditions of the southern Rockies region.

Education. Most RMFI Field Staff members have a college degree in a natural sciences field which can be valuable for several reasons. First, a natural sciences background will help equip a staff member to apply science-based solutions in the work that makes up our conservation and restoration research components of the RMFI mission. Next, this background enables staff to provide special insight to our volunteers about how their work fits into a healthy ecosystem and why the work matters. This especially supports the environmental education component of RMFI’s mission. Finally, along with other aspects, this background can indicate the strong passion which a staff member will bring to projects.

Leadership Experience. They have significant peer and team-leading experience in back-country environs. Some have been graduates of our summer Earth Corps program which exercises a team of 10 college students engaged in a rigorous service and academic project in a strenuous back-country environment. Others were leaders within their youth corps program or have led multiple student excursions in wilderness areas.

Basic Medical Training. Medical preparedness in this line of work is key! RMFI Field Staff maintain, at a minimum, Wilderness First Aid (“WFA”) and CPR certification. Many hold more advanced certifications such as Wilderness First Responder (“WFR”) or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (“WEMT”). These are nationally-recognized certifications which specialize in patient assessment, stabilization, care and evacuation for scenarios lasting hours to days in locations which are isolated from definitive higher-level medical care. We call these “isolated” locations back-country or wilderness, which happens to be the places many of our volunteers really appreciate working in. WFA is a 24-hour course, WFR is an 80-hour course, WEMT is a month-long course and they all have periodic re-certification or continuing education requirements.

Specialty Certifications.  RMFI enjoys many other applicable specialty skills amongst its staff including: chainsaw sawyer certification (S212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws), crosscut sawyer certification, Wildland Firefighter (type 2) certification, Leave No Trace, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) experience, and various rock climbing and climbing safety experience. Little-known fact, one RMFI staff-member was part of the earliest generation of NOLS Instructors!