Snake River Intern
A senior in the environmental studies program at Virginia Commonwealth University, Jack Lahey has a particular interest in rivers. Within VCU’s environmental studies program, Jack is additionally working towards a certificate in river studies and leadership from the River Management Society, a nonprofit dedicated to holistic river management.
Designed for both undergraduate and graduate students, this certificate program combines multidisciplinary river coursework with a hands-on practicum to prepare students for river-related careers in conservation, recreation, and policy. Jack is one of a few VCU/River Management Society students who have been a part of the BTNF’s Snake River Program over the years.
“This internship looked cool and like I’d get a lot of experience in seeing the management of a popular river area,” he says.
While this summer is Jack’s first time living in the West, he grew up paddling rivers in rural Virginia. The first stretch of the Snake River on the BTNF that he paddled was South Park to Pritchard Landing. “It was so nice,” Jack says. “I’m looking forward to learning more about and seeing more of the Snake while I’m here.”
On Responsible River Recreation:
“Since I’m pretty new to whitewater, I like to paddle with people more experienced than I am. It feels safer and I can learn from them.”