Into the woods

[Link]Ava Wood spent her summer out in Montana and Washington, where she worked as a firefighting apprentice.

Oct. 2, 2024
Contact: Courtney Perrett, [email protected]
Photos courtesy Ava Wood

This summer, University of Missouri junior Ava Wood didn't just brave the outdoors - she conquered it. From sleeping under the stars to hauling heavy gear through treacherous wildfire zones, she took on miles of untamed wilderness in Montana and Washington.

But that wasn't all. For weeks, Wood worked on the frontlines alongside her mentors, helping put out some of the season's most dangerous wildfires - an experience she covets for its hands-on qualities, which she believes will shape her career in natural resource management.

The forest calls

After researching the universities with top-tier natural resources management programs, Wood decided to stay in her home state, almost immediately settling on Mizzou for its wide-ranging opportunities that would allow her to get experience in the field.

"At Mizzou, I'm not just learning in the classroom," Wood said. "There are a number of great student organizations including the fire ecology club, whose main focus is connecting students to different volunteer and job opportunities in the world of fire. During my freshman and sophomore years, I got to go see a lot of organized land burns with private landowners. Hands-on experiences like that helped me apply the knowledge I'm learning in the classroom to the real world. They also help me make connections with different people in Missouri who are deeply involved in the forestry and land management communities."

While Wood was used to coordinating burns within a set of guidelines, this past summer she was encouraged to register with a local wildland firefighting company to build her portfolio by going out West to help manage the wildfire landscape.

For Wood, navigating wildfires confirmed her passion for habitat restoration, which she hopes will be her future career path.

A home among the Tigers

Launching into her third year at Mizzou, Wood is excited to get back to her routine, including her campus job as a landscape services intern.

"When I first arrived on campus, I went looking for a job that was connected to being outside and natural resources," Wood said. "It was a perfect coincidence that I learned that Mizzou is actually a registered botanic garden. Once I knew that, I simply walked into Virginia Avenue Parking Structure and asked for a job."

In her role as a landscape services intern, Wood helps manage flowerbeds around campus. She waters plants, mulches, blows leaves, weeds and even gets rid of the ice that builds up on stairs and sidewalks during the winter months.

"I'm not someone who likes spending most of her time doing paperwork or data collection," Wood said. "I like to be working with my hands and connecting with people out in the community. I came to Mizzou because of its dedication to its land-grant mission, and the university has provided me so many opportunities for my career path. With Mizzou behind me, I know this is only the beginning."

MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

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