Backcountry Horsemen of California
My name is Jenna Haack and I’m so excited to be joining the BCH crew for the upcoming season as an intern! Originally, I’m from Wisconsin and spend most of my winters there, like a confused migratory bird, and my summer’s are always open for new adventures, often out of state. After graduating from UW-River Falls with a B.S. in Animal Science, I wanted to grow my skill set which fueled my interest for seasonal work. I’ve held a variety of temporary jobs from Range Technician with the U.S. Forest Service to 4-H Extension Agent in South Dakota to a Wrangler in Utah, I’m thrilled to apply my experiences to this new challenge while soaking up all the knowledge around me. In my free time I enjoy hiking, riding my horses, and spending time with my friends, family, and cows. I’m looking forward to a great season, can’t wait to see you on the trail!
Backcountry Horsemen of California and the U.S. Forest Service partnered in 2018 to develop a packing internship program. The program’s mission was “To develop young adults to carry on the skills, attitude and fundamentals of packing, partnerships and LNT for the future of BCH.” Under the supervision of Forest Service Packers Lee Roeser and Michael Morse, the first training took place at Region 5 Pack Stock Center of Excellence to in Bishop, California. Funding to support the program came from various BCHC units combined with a grant from Back Country Horsemen of America. A donation was made to Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps who, in turn, paid the intern.
The mission of the BCHC Intern Program is to recruit and train apprentices that may become the
new generation of highly skilled packers, trail workers, wilderness managers and volunteers that
have a strong desire to protect our public lands, while preserving traditional wilderness skills and
maintaining accessibility.
This is an all-inclusive training program in the use of pack stock as a traditional tool, humane
stock handling and packing procedures. Mule and horsemanship, as well as safety, are the
cornerstones this training is based on. Also included in the program are Leave No Trace
practices for stock users, wilderness management, trail maintenance and all the details that go
into creating a safe, productive and efficient packing operation.
The Packer Intern will develop the skills and knowledge to help perpetuate the common sense
use of horses in America’s backcountry and wilderness and to help work to ensure that public
lands remain open to recreational stock use, whether as an employee of a governmental agency,
or as a private citizen.
Further, the Intern will learn proper use of a crosscut saw and other trail maintenance tools, will
learn/develop the skill of packing, and will educate and encourage wise use of backcountry
resources by all visitors to public lands through Leave No Trace principles. In addition, the
Intern will understand the historical aspect of pack stock use in the backcountry and wilderness
areas as a means for transportation, trail development and other functions and will continue
relationship-building efforts with the Forest Service.
Since inception of the program, funding has been through BCHC unit pledges and individual
donations and only been enough to fund one Intern each year.
In its fifth year of operation (2022), BCHC received its first outside grant for the Intern Program.
Subsequently, Lucy Badenhoop, a BCHC member with years of grant experience for trail
projects, was appointed
Grants Coordinator. Lucy has worked
diligently to develop a plan and schedule for long-term funding through grants and 50/50
matching funds (unit pledges).
A pledge schedule was implemented in late 2023 for the 2024 internship cycle. One grant and
sufficient pledges were obtained to fund one Intern in 2024. If additional pledges are received in
time to acquire additional matching grants, multiple Interns could be funded. Any late or unused
funds/grants would roll to the next year.
Program description and application:
https://bit.ly/BchcIntern
Recruitment began in January at colleges that send student pack teams to Bishop for the annual
Mule Days Celebration packing competition. These students are expected to be highly motivated
with some packing and stock handling skills. Other candidates will also be encouraged to apply.
Members of the BCHC Intern Committee, appointed by the BCHC President, will review all
applications submitted by the deadline. Interviews will be conducted and the candidate best
fitting the qualifications will be selected.
With continued experience, BCHC will adjust its funding plan and make necessary changes,
eventually being able to focus on an endowment idea to provide stable long-term funding for the
Intern Program.
For more information about the Intern Program, contact the
BCHC Intern Committee Chair.
BCHC pays about $13,000* to support one Intern for the 12-week summer Intern Program. Like
everything else, this amount goes up every year.
A donation to BCHC’s nonprofit 501(c)3 Education Fund, Inc., will help support our education
mission and is tax deductible.
Please give any amount you can to sustain this worthwhile program.
Help us “develop young adults … for the future of BCH.”
(*If donations exceed the amount needed, they will be held in a fund for the next year. Donations to the BCHC Intern Program will only be used for that purpose.)