Where Are They Now? Alumni Highlight: Molly Urban
Let’s catch up with Molly Urban! Molly served in the field crew program in Rochester, Minnesota as a crew member in 2020 and as a field specialist in 2021. Since her time with the Corps, Molly has been working as a wildland firefighter with the US Forest Service.
What kind of work did you do when you were in the Corps?
I absolutely loved the variety of work I did while I was with CCMI. It gave me so much experience in so many areas of natural resource management. The most relevant work I did that relates to my current day to day as a wildland firefighter was getting my basic FFT2 qualifications and chainsaw experience. The prescribed burning experience and wildfire assignments I went on as part of the Corps very much prepared me to move into my current position. I also did a lot of work in trail maintenance and construction, invasive species treatment and removal, watershed restoration, prairie restoration, and recreation area maintenance.
What did you do immediately after your term with the Corps?
I started working for the US Forest Service immediately after I left the Conservation Corps.
Where are you now?
I currently work for the US Forest Service on the Chippewa National Forest. I am employed as a wildland firefighter.
What kind of work do you do?
I primarily work in suppression of wildfires, but much like the Conservation Corps, my days are often varied and filled with many natural resource management projects. During the springtime, we do a good amount of prescribed burning, snag felling, road and trail clearing, and other activities as needed by other departments. When Minnesota’s fire season is over (usually in June) we go available to assist in suppression activities nationwide. As I write this, I am on my way home from a fire assignment in Montana where we worked in suppression.
Were there any particularly memorable or challenging experiences during your time in the Corps?
I grew a lot as a person in my time with CCMI, but my personal favorite experience I had was the variety of fire assignments I was able to go on in the 2021 fire season. Northern Minnesota was in great need throughout the entire summer, and I was able to go on three different rolls that summer. It taught me a lot about my leadership capabilities, and also brought me into contact with many people who would help me on my career path into wildland fire.
What was the most personally meaningful part of your experience with Conservation Corps?
I still maintain a lot of the relationships and friendships I developed over my time with CCMI. I also love the fact that so many people in this line of work have served in a conservation corps somewhere in the country, and it’s always a great conversation starter to talk about our experiences.
How did the experience shape your career/life?
I simply have no idea where I would be if it weren’t for the Conservation Corps. I took a 180 on my career after working as a graphic designer for two years when I joined up in 2020, and I’m so happy that I did. I can’t imagine what I’d be doing now if I didn’t work with CCMI.
How did you use your education award?
I used my education award to pay off the last of my student loans, and I’m now completely student debt free.
What advice would you give to current members?
First, always say yes. Regardless of what the job is, challenge yourself to say yes to new experiences. Even if you don’t like it, it’s more information that you have about yourself, and gives you more direction on what you might like to do in the future. I never saw myself as being a firefighter, but now it’s hard to imagine any other life. I never would’ve had this career if it weren’t for saying yes to fire assignments and learning about myself as a person as a result. Second, talk to your project hosts, CCMI staff, supervisors you meet in your travels, and ask questions. Be curious. I am where I am now because of the mentorship of people who have done this longer than me, and I’m eternally grateful for their help. By and large, almost everyone in this field wants to see you succeed and they will go out of their way to help you do that.
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