Conservation Diaries: Elisa Distefano, International Volunteer (U.S. National Park Service)

Conservation Diaries: Elisa Distefano, International Volunteer

Listen to this episode of Conservation Diaries as Elisa Distefano shares her experience as an international volunteer at North Cascades National Park.

Audio Transcript

[intro music]
Celeste: Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Conservation Diaries, a National Park Service podcast. I am your host, Celeste Morales and in these episodes, we are featuring youth from around the world volunteering in national parks through the National Park Service’s International Volunteers-In-Parks Program.
Sometimes called "IVIP” for short, this program brings many talented people from different cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds to gain experience to work in conservation-related fields in National Park Service parks. Our agency also has the opportunity to learn from their knowledge and perspective. While this podcast series focuses on youth, the International Volunteers In Parks Program is open to all ages.
Our guest today is Elisa Distefano from Rome, Italy. She volunteered at North Cascades National Park the summer of 2022. As a volunteer Elisa stayed in Stehekin Valley which has long served as a passageway for travelers, linking Washington's interior wilderness to the rugged Cascade Mountains. It's one of the most remote places in the 48 contiguous states and has a very small community. During her volunteer service Elisa joined several projects including collection of seeds, of grasses in helping mitigate deforestation of some areas of the park. She also helped with the fire management team and contributed to the management of an historic orchard where some apple varieties are cultivated.
Elisa Distefano: The experience of fire management was super interesting because I had some monitoring sites where the team was measuring how the trees grow after fire events. So I was helping with a series of measurements including, for example, the diameter of best height of the trees. All the trees were numbered with tags and we had a tool for assessing their heights and also we were measuring the build up of the wood material that would have an impact in case of other fire events. So we were measuring the depth of the litter, the depth of the soil, and all the material that was accumulating on the floor of the forest.
Celeste: Elisa assistance of monitoring the effect of the fire control management plan included helping with the park biodiversity of plants. With the impact of deforestation and climate change of warmer summers in the pacific northwest, with Elisa’s expertise she helped managed all the different species that were in the nursery of pruning and adding fertilizer, and watering.
Elisa Distefano: So I would like to say that I have a background in natural resource management as a degree and then I have a master's degree in biodiversity and conservation. Also, my job regards natural resource management, sustainable development, and adaptation to climate change in developing countries. So for me this opportunity, it was great because it gave me the possibility of having insight of how to manage natural resources in a park that is very extensive and where all the ecosystems like pristine and the natural environment in untouched.
Celeste: This experience exposed Elisa to difference natural elements of climate change. For example, seeing cultivation affected by floods, drought, desertification, land degradation, forest fires, overfishing. The land gave her a new perspective of both privilege and appreciation of being in its presence.
Elisa Distefano: My cultural background? Well I come from Italy and Italy has a long history of managing parks, but the difference is that parks are inhabited. There are roads, there's towns, so we are not so used to real wilderness. And so for me this made the experience even more interesting because I come from a highly populated country and population density is kind of high also in natural parks. But on the other hand, I come from a country that has high biodiversity in terms of vascular plants. So we have the highest biodiversity in Europe in terms of plants. So I have a long experience of going out with my professors and teachers collecting samples of vegetation, classifying the flora.
Celeste: Elisa admitted her gratefulness of the supportive park staff that help set her up for success with books and resources of identifying the native true grasses. Within the North Cascades, true grasses include approximately 150 species all of which are native. The impact of this species are invaluable to the ability of stabilizing stream banks and filtering sediments.
Elisa Distefano: And then they spent few days with me looking at the grasses, helping understand how to identify the grasses because the grasses look very similar and it takes a little bit of practice. So the park was very generous in terms of giving me the material to learn to do my job in the best possible way.
Celeste: Elisa’s transferable knowledge of true grasses provided guidance in her services as she assisted the expanding effort of true grasses and the positive future impact it will have to the habitat and food for numerous animals and other organisms.
Elisa Distefano: So I felt that I was there to give as much as possible, but to make their life easier. So how can I really contribute for the projects that are running? This was the question I was asking myself every day. And I really did my best to make them feel I was a support. So I think everybody that applies to this, they should come with this, I think most of the volunteers come with this mindset, but three weeks is a good amount of time to learn and then become active.
Celeste: Volunteering in another country is a great experience especially with the National Park Service. Each year, approximately 100 foreign nationals volunteer in the US national parks, gain new skills while bringing new perspectives on NPS challenges. These International VIP's come equipped with the education and experience that make them valuable additions to national park staff. Like Elisa, they travel great distance and fund their own expenses for opportunities to do work in their career fields.
Elisa Distefano: I think this international exchange has several benefits, not only in terms of how the resources are managed. So not in terms of exchange of knowledge because we had interaction on things and that was, I think, interesting for both parties. But I think the strength of the international volunteer, that's why I am so keen about it, it goes beyond that. It’s a life experience, for me, I found this is a life choice. Like working in a park is really a life choice, like you have so many benefits, but then on the other hand you have to face some challenging situations. So I really admire, so it’s about the life experience, it’s not only about bringing cultural exchange. Of course I can also bring as much as possible from my previous experiences from the national and international level. I’m used to working with people from all backgrounds. My colleagues come from all over the world and I am very local. So for once I am the international one living with locals.
Celeste: North Cascade uniqueness of uninhabited region and isolation is one of many International Volunteers In Parks program opportunities that welcomes cultural exchanges with the environment and the surrounding park community. Volunteering at a park provides unimaginable benefits of facing challenging situations and life experiences.
Elisa Distefano: This experience has changed the way I looked at my daily life. I don't know why it was so intense. I have worked in other remote areas. For example, I worked for the James Cook University on a marine conservation project on an island on the Great Barrier Reef. And there too, I had to order the food online. We were receiving the food with the plane that was bringing the post once a week. So I've been in very remote places. But this park in the US for me has been an experience that really touched my soul. I might reconsider life choices. So yeah. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Celeste: Elisa has since returned home to Italy with a new perspective on her daily life. Her experience has left her with an impactful reflection of remoteness in the wilderness. The National Park Service’s International Volunteer in Parks program coordinates opportunities like Elisa for nearly 100 foreign national volunteers from around the world to contribute to the US national parks. It is one of several programs that helps the NPS share its experiences with individuals from around the world.
There are many opportunities for youth and young adults 15 to 30 years old and veterans 35 years old and younger to work with the National Park Service. To learn more about these jobs, internships, and volunteering opportunities, you can go to nps.gov slash youth programs.
Thanks for listening and happy trails!
[music fades]

Elisa carrying true grass on a bike
NPS Photo

Meet Elisa Distefano, an Environmental, Natural Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation Specialist from Rome, Italy. She works in national parks and protected areas around the world as a contractor, but lives in a city in between jobs. Elisa wanted a chance to live and work in a wilderness area and to help a US national park. She decided to apply for a volunteer opportunity with the National Park Service’s International Volunteers In Parks program. Her aspiration is to actively contribute to reduce environmental degradation, conserve ecosystems integrity, build climate resilience, and enhance well-being of people.

Established in 1968, the rugged wilderness within the North Cascades National Park boasts over 300 glaciers, making it the most heavily glaciated areas in the United States outside of Alaska. There is much work to be done to preserve and protect the cultural and natural resources contained within the park’s mountains, valleys, and rivers. Skilled volunteers like Elisa are a welcome addition to the park’s team.

Elisa standing next to a tree — Elisa was able to explore the beauty of North Cascades performing her volunteer duties.
NPS Photo

“I had the privilege to work in the Bukner Orchard in the North Cascade National Park, which is a remarkable example of preservation and management of apple tree diversity as well as conservation of a Cultural Landscape Site.” - Elisa Distefano

During her volunteer service, Elisa joined several projects including collection of seeds and identifying native grasses. She also helped with the fire management team and contributed to the management of an historic orchard where some apple varieties are cultivated.

Natural elements like water, air, and fire are continually shaping and reshaping the landscape in national parks. During her volunteering at North Cascades, Elisa was exposed to a range of natural resources management issues, including the effects of climate change, pollution, and non-native species. Her experiences at North Cascades gave Elisa new perspectives on work, wilderness, and life.

Sarah and two people in front of a lake — Another benefit of volunteering is meeting new people and making new friends.
NPS Photo

“The International Volunteer Program in the North Cascades National Park gave the opportunity to interact with field ecologists and rangers, acquire new skills on forest fire monitoring, feel part of the most remote community in the 48 contiguous US states, work for a valid cause, and share my vision.” - Elisa Distefano

Volunteering in another country is a great experience especially with the National Park Service. Each year, approximately 100 foreign nationals volunteer in the US national parks, gaining new skills while bringing new perspectives on public lands challenges and protection. Elisa engagement as an international volunteer help with collection of scientific data related to important issues face by the parks and the inventory life in the North Cascades.

Celeste Morales on a rooftop with the Washington Monument in the backround — Celeste Morales at the National Park Service's headquarters in Washington, DC
NPS Photo

Meet the Host

Celeste Morales, a Chicana with a Hispanic heritage stemming from Jalisco, Mexico, is serving as the National Leader for the Community Volunteer Ambassador Program. For the 2022 cohort of this program, she works directly with the National Park Service Washington Support Office and provides peer support to over fifty Community Volunteer Ambassadors at national park sites across the US. In her role, Celeste also serves as a liaison for the Volunteers-In-Parks Program which works to inspire the next generation of stewards through volunteer services. Celeste aspires to continue working in the field of parks and recreation to strengthen opportunities for diverse communities to show their support and commitment to permanently protecting our natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

LInda Bennett standing next a representative from a Kenyan national park — Linda Bennett with a representative from a national park in Kenya
NPS Photo

Meet the International Volunteers in Parks Coordinator

Linda Bennett is an International Cooperation Specialist with the National Park Service's Office of International Affairs. She serves as the International Volunteer in Parks (IVIP) Coordinator, as well as the main contact for the National Park Service's international cooperation efforts with countries in Europe. Her 30-year career with the National Park Service has included being an interpretive ranger and volunteer coordinator at National Mall and Memorial Parks, assignments in Canyonlands National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, and graduating the Mid-Level Intake program. She finds working with international volunteers rewarding with the knowledge that their experiences working in the US national parks will have a lasting impact upon their careers and lives.

Conservation Diaries: Elisa Distefano, International Volunteer