Immersed in the Great Outdoors

Jack Buck '21

Jack Buck ’21

“I have always loved being in the outdoors, and I wanted a major where I could learn in it, not just about it.” Meet Jack Buck ’21, a biology major and Outing Club member who’s interning this summer with the U.S. Forest Service and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation, just outside of Yellowstone National Park.

Hometown:

Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Major:

Biology.

Clubs and organizations:

Delta Sigma Phi, Outing Club and the Writing Center.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

Class of 2021 First-Year Seminar Excellence in Writing Award.

Favorite book:

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.

Favorite movie:

Interstellar.

On choosing a major:

I have always loved being in the outdoors, and I wanted a major where I could learn in it, not just about it. Studying biology has been a great way for me to apply what I learn in class to meaningful field experiences.

Favorite place on campus:

Rector, or maybe Denny, because I’m pretty sure it’s haunted.

Favorite Dining Hall food:

You know, the slicer is really the unsung hero of the Caf.

Favorite class:

One of my favorite classes was my First-Year Seminar, Into the Wild, since I loved the topic of the American wilderness. I also learned a lot of useful skills for successfully researching and writing college-level papers.

As I kid, I wanted to be …

… a paleontologist.

Post-Dickinson plans:

I’m hoping to gain some work experience after college before attending a graduate school program focused on biology/natural resource management.

About my internship:

This summer I’m interning with the U.S. Forest Service and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation in Gardiner, Montana, just outside of Yellowstone National Park. I’m hiking and working with a team on various backcountry trail projects, including public outreach and a little bit of scientific research. I was really drawn to go back to the Rocky Mountains in Montana, as it’s a beautiful part of the country, and I wanted to learn about how preserves are managed.

About my research:

Next semester I’m planning to conduct an independent research project using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to gather biological field data around Carlisle and create a map of my findings to better understand a local ecological issue. GIS is a really useful way to visualize data and analyze it through creating maps, something that could serve me in future research at Dickinson, in graduate school and in my career.

If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …

… Teddy Roosevelt, because he led a crazy-interesting life before becoming president and had pretty fascinating views on national parks and preserves.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

College has taught me that using my resources and relying on those around me when I’m stuck can go a long way toward figuring out how to move forward in what I want to do.

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Published July 10, 2019