AmeriCorps Featured Members - Christian Zeser
Christian Zeser was a member of MACOG’s second AmeriCorps cohort serving with MACOG at the Elkhart Environmental Center. Tasks included leading student groups on tours, large-scale invasive species removal, assistance in planning Environmental Center events, and leading events such as a birding walk.
• How did you find out about AmeriCorps and what led you to this role?
I was informed by a past teacher who knew I was interested in the field of Ecology that an AmeriCorps position had opened at the Elkhart Environmental Center. I was immediately interested and applied soon after.
• Why did you select the Elkhart Environmental Center as your AmeriCorps service site?
The Environmental Center was not only close to home, it represented a challenge in the service that I would be doing as well as an opportunity to help my immediate community. Furthermore, I would have the opportunity to be around nature and learn constantly from both my supervisors and my new experiences.
• What AmeriCorps activities have been most meaningful to you?
The event that has been most meaningful to me must have been the morning bird walk that I organized at the sanctuary. I was able to show people that shared my passion the service that I had been doing and the natural value of my service site.
• How has service in the AmeriCorps program at MACOG and living in our region impacted your career aspirations?
It definitely has taught me about the importance of connections within the field I plan to go into (Biology) as well as the difficulty in effectively restoring land to a more natural state with a low budget, limited manpower, and not a lot of time. Living in our region, I have realized the importance of education about nature to the public. More often than not, people are inclined to believe Indiana is nothing but corn and soy when that is far from the truth. This has led to a calling on my part to try my best to undo that misconception wherever I can.
• What continues to inspire you to serve in this role?
I’ve discovered recently that there is a certain look another person gets when they learn something that surprises them. Whether in children or adults, the look never changes. It’s that look that keeps me going in many of my endeavors, AmeriCorps or not.
• What’s next after your AmeriCorps service is completed?
This fall I will begin my first semester as an Undergraduate at Cornell Univeristy with hopes to study Biology on the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology pathway. From there I plan to pursue a career in Wildlife or Conservation Biology.
“My favorite part of my service is the opportunity to spend my days outside in nature, working with my hands. Not only that, I can share what I love through education about nature.”
