This new initiative will spotlight the remarkable efforts, impacts, and contributions of students, staff, alumni, and affiliated organizations connected to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Conservation and Environmental Science (CES) program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jaeden\u2019s journey into 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Conservation and Environmental Science program is not your traditional environmental student path<\/strong>. Jaeden\u2019s journey into environmental education didn\u2019t even start after high school; instead, he initially pursued a career as an EMT, a role he found immensely rewarding. However, soon after, a visit to a friend in Canada revealed the captivating world of environmental science to Jaeden, something he never even knew existed as formal college education. This epiphany led him to commence his first semester at Trent University in Canada. He was driven by a desire to “do something that mattered in the (environmental) world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Growing up in the urban landscape of Milwaukee\u2019s city, Jaeden was not surrounded by the \u201clarge green spaces” and rural nature typically associated with environmental science enthusiasts. In fact, his Canada trip was his first \u201creal exposure\u201d to large wild landscapes that are often depicted as \u201cnature.\u201d His initial awareness of environmental issues, like climate change, was primarily from media and news rather than direct experience. However, a semester in Canada followed by transferring to 51ÁÔÆæ revealed his keen interest in “urban conservation.” This focus resonates with him, rooted in his youth experiences in the city. As he delves deeper into his CES education, Jaeden reflects, \u201cWe have people living in this city, and even though all the same things are here compared to rural areas, it (nature) gets lost.\u201d Yet, nature DOES exist here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon joining 51ÁÔÆæ’s CES program, Jaeden rediscovered the warmth and camaraderie of his hometown community.<\/strong> \u201cYou feel like you have a face,\u201d he explains, appreciating how professors will know his name, walking down the sidewalk. These connections, he believes, are invaluable in a vast world where individuals can often feel adrift. His connections with his peers are equally valuable. Jaeden has been an integral part of the 51ÁÔÆæ Conservation Club for over two years, serving as the Social Media Manager for the past two semesters. He is proud of the club’s ability to bring together peers from diverse backgrounds and interests, fostering growth and collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jaeden’s professional and educational experiences are \u201creally blooming\u201d in the few years he\u2019s been \u201cplanting seeds\u201d with the CES program.<\/strong> In the summer of 2023, he interned here in Wisconsin with the Natural Resources Foundation (NRF) as an Urban and Conservation Storytelling Intern. During this time, he honed his photography skills and grasped the importance of urban conservation in the Milwaukee area through interviews with various organizations. This experience underscored the significance of networking in the CES world to him. He returned to interning with the NRF in the summer of 2024 to focus on digital communications, traveling across Wisconsin to contribute to blogs and social media. Currently, Jaeden is an intern with Wisconsin Clean Cities, providing education regarding alternative fuels, data collection from Wisconsin fleet(s) that are members of the coalition, and outreach\/recruitment to get more Wisconsin organizations involved in the transition to alternative fuel-based vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opportunities exist for students: Jaeden will soon venture to Grenada under the UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin Lutheran College\u2019s Grenada SURF-TURF program. There, he will engage in research projects such as assessing invasive species, monitoring disease prevalence, studying biodiversity and artificial reefs, and even monitoring sea turtle nests and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet through all his studies, connections and schedule, Jaeden also works off-campus as a barista!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are all learning together\u201d Jaeden explains.<\/strong> If he could offer advice to aspiring CES students, Jaeden says, \u201cWe need to all get over the fear of just \u2018getting out there.\u2019 Don\u2019t be afraid of new situations or what you might say, your actions of showing up to a meeting or volunteering speak louder than many words.\u201d This mantra of \u201cI can do this\u201d has been his guiding light, reminding him of how far he has come through his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Jaeden approaches the completion of his Bachelor of Science in CES at 51ÁÔÆæ, his future plans remain flexible. While he envisions pursuing a master’s or venturing into research eventually, he is also open to gaining more hands-on experience with environmental organizations, particularly nonprofits. Whatever path Jaeden takes, he is bound to “do something that matters\u201d in this world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Intrigued? For more information or contact information, check out 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s CES Program: uwm.edu\/ces<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by Zelenda Koch<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pictures owned by Jaeden Carrasquillo<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This new initiative will spotlight the remarkable efforts, impacts, and contributions of students, staff, alumni, and affiliated organizations connected to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Conservation and Environmental Science (CES) program. Meet Jaeden, the CES program\u2019s inaugural “Feature of the Week” …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1272,"featured_media":780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n