Uncategorized
BSCC summer intern weaves his way into Big Sky
Published
10 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Tyler Allen Explore Big Sky Senior Editor
BIG SKY – The Big Sky Community Corp.’s first unpaid intern may never have come here were it not for a season-ending ski injury. Ben Enseleit found the local nonprofit while recovering from a torn MCL last winter.
Enseleit was visiting friends in Big Sky Resort during the New Year’s holiday, nursing the injury he endured on the first day of ski season at Lookout Pass Ski Area, when he saw a flier for one of BSCC’s fundraising events.
The Great Falls native contacted BSCC Executive Director Jessie Wiese, and during the next few months the two discussed how Enseleit could help the parks and trails nonprofit.
When he finished his junior year at the University of Montana in May, Enseleit returned to Big Sky and has since crafted a comprehensive parks and trails maintenance handbook, worked once a week as a counselor for Camp Big Sky, walked miles of trails, and written a weekly blog post for Visit Big Sky.
“What hasn’t he done?” said Wiese. “[Enseilet] has stepped up to every challenge we’ve given him.”
The degree in recreation management Enseleit is pursuing gives him a valuable skill set, Wiese added, especially his organization, writing abilities and knack for working with the group’s volunteers. But Enseleit came to the outdoor recreation field in a roundabout way.
“I started out as a pharmacy student but didn’t really have a passion for it,” said the soft-spoken 21-year-old. “I got into a wilderness education class and figured out I wanted to do something in natural resources, [which] turned into recreation management.”
While he didn’t begin his education in the outdoor field, Enseleit comes by it naturally. His extended family has a few cabins around the state from Lincoln to the Smith River and the tiny town of Monarch, south of Great Falls.
“I’ve always been outside all season long skiing, biking, hiking and exploring lakes,” Enseleit said. “I like the outdoors a lot, it’s where I spent most of my childhood.”
In addition to the 30-50 hours a week he volunteers to BSCC, he spends five nights a week working for the Country Market in Big Sky’s Meadow Village. Despite his significant time commitment to the internship, he doesn’t slow down when he punches in each evening as a cashier, according to Country Market owner Lynn Anderson.
“I think he does a fabulous job balancing it all,” Anderson said. “I never feel like we get his leftover time… I’d like to have more Bens. He has all the things you want in an employee, he’s hardworking and reliable.”
Enseleit plans to come back to Big Sky after graduating next spring, and eventually pursue a master’s degree in something related to nonprofit or business management. “You need to know [those skills] to make an organization successful,” he said.
Whether he continues working with BSCC next year or not, his stint this summer won’t likely be the last internship experience for the organization.
“I’ll definitely be looking for interns in the future,” Wiese said. “This has been a really good experience… I wasn’t sure what to expect.” Wherever he lands in Big Sky next summer, Enseleit should be an asset to his next employer.
“Someone’s going to be lucky to have him when he finishes school,” Anderson said.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm