Ready or Not

I'm a big ol' ball of nervous/excited energy. And I can hardly bring myself to pack. My floor is just a mess of clothes, outdoor gear and to-do lists.
Only 5 more days...

Countdown: One Month

So here's my plan for the summer: From May 8th-Aug 27th I will be interning for the National Parks Service through Student Conservation Association (SCA) at Hovenweep National Monument. Its a very small, remote (45 minute drive just to get to a Walmart) park located near the four corners and is both in Utah and Colorado. My duties: staff the visitor center for a few hours a day, rove the two mile trail around the park, assisting people where needed, drive to parts of the park to check on things and give a camp fireside (actually will take place in an amphitheater with no electricity) talk once a week in the evening. There are about 5 people total on staff- a full time ranger, 2 archeologists, law enforcement officer and another SCA intern.

I'm getting more nervous and more excited with each day. Been busy getting ready for my trip. So little time left! So far the tentative road trip route: Chicago, Omaha, Denver, with some other smaller cities thrown in there (maybe Cleavland, Iowa City, Des Moine, Lincoln, Cheyenne, Colorado Springs). Honestly, I just hope my Old Lady Mobile survives the mountains and deserts.

Hopes, dreams, and desires:
1. Two unforgettable road trips (there and back)
2. Find some awesome, adventurous friends to show me around- perhaps through couchsurfing?
3. To one day wear a ranger hat
4. Explore other amazing parks such as Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, and San Jan National Forest
5. Discover a lost civilization

What a whirlwind of a summer is turning out to be!