New Staff Profile: Collin Stratz

I am excited to join the IERCD as a Field Ecologist with the Natural Resource Management team. Prior to being hired at the District, I graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a B.S. in Environmental Biology with an emphasis in Ecosystem Ecology and Management and a Minor in Regenerative Studies in 2015. While attending Cal Poly Pomona I worked as a Rock Climbing Instructor at the campus gym, teaching students rock climbing techniques and co-leading off campus adventure events to allow students to experience outdoor activities in a safe and controlled atmosphere. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, camping, rock climbing, and snowboarding during the winter.

After graduating I joined an organization within AmeriCorps called American Conservation Experience (ACE) and performed a 900 hour volunteer service in St. George, Utah, which exposed me to an array of conservation projects at Zion National Park, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Bureau of Land Management in St. George, Fish and Wildlife Services, and Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with AmeriCorps and ACE again as a Backcountry Ranger Intern at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky. During my volunteer experiences with ACE, both in Utah and Kentucky, I have developed a tremendous appreciation for working in the outdoors, exploring and camping in remote areas seldom seen, and providing a public service to educate visitors while helping to restore and maintain natural landscapes. My college and personal experiences as well as volunteer opportunities have solidified my desire to work in an environment that focuses on restoring and preserving natural landscapes and promoting resource conservation.

Since graduating from Cal Poly Pomona, this will be my first job back in Southern California where I have grown up. I am excited to be back in the environment that I am most familiar with and to be near my family, friends, and dog once again. I am ecstatic to be joining the IERCD family and to become familiar with all the projects that the organization manages. I look forward to getting my hands dirty and helping in any way I can to ensure the success of IERCD’s mission.

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