Virtual Student Federal Sevice Interns at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

About this article: This article was originally published in the Lewis & Clark Trail Annual Report 2024.

Tribal traditional associations geospatial research

During the 2023-2024 school year, the Trail Tribal Partnerships Specialist/Cultural Anthropologist and Trail Geographer led geospatial research conducted by Virtual Student Federal Service intern, Joe Johnson, then a senior at the University of Oregon. Joe joined a group of interns who also collaborated with Trail partner organization AIANTA (American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association) to co-create and share work products. The research consisted of locating and analyzing different geospatial data sets to help the Trail improve its understanding of traditionally associated Tribal Nations.

To further this understanding, Joe analyzed the Trail corridor in relation to data sets related to treaty land cessions, ancestral lands identified by Indigenous communities, Tribal counties of interest reported to federal agencies, and locations of current Tribal and Canadian First Nation communities, among others. Importantly, this information will continue to be updated through direct conversations with Tribal Nations, to improve the NPS’s understanding of Indigenous connections to the Lewis and Clark Expedition and to significant areas and resources along the Trail.

Intern Cohort of the Year Winners : Maria Camarota and Shea O’Connor

Congratulations to Maria Camarota and Shea O’Connor, our Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) interns for the 2023-2024 academic year, for their VSFS Intern Cohort of the Year accolade!

Maria, an environmental policy master’s student, and Shea, an undergraduate in conservation and minor in geospatial analysis, successfully executed a collaborative project - “Land Management Research of the Lewis and Clark NHT.” Maria and Shea researched land management policy and identified areas for partner collaboration across the 4,900-mile corridor. This project will connect us with new partners and provide resources staff with a foundation for informed decision making while co-stewarding sites. Additionally, their project provides a framework through which staff can continue to document, understand, and strengthen or positively influence protection of Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Maria completed her master’s program in June 2024 with a thesis focused on shark conservation. Her current work involves researching ordinances and regulations related to renewable energy.

Shea is currently working on her masters, which she plans to focus on black bear-human conflict using geospatial data.

Thank you VSFS interns!

By the Numbers

49 Number of interns
18,720 Hours worked
$560,664 Total benefit

We are grateful for the support and dedication from our interns!