Meet the Staff | Ryan Wood: Summer Field Technician

Hello everyone my name is Ryan. I am the project technician for the 2024 summer season for UPRCD. I am from Michigan’s EUP and currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management at Lake Superior State University. I enjoy fishing, hunting (mostly deer and small game), woodworking, and spending time with friends and family. 

    One of my future goals is to receive my masters degree in ecology or a related field in natural resources. I'd like to do this because I believe a masters degree would help me in my future career and open new opportunities for me. Another future goal of mine is to see new/live in many different places across the country. I have lived in Michigan’s UP my entire life and I would like to see what else is out there.

    Conservation is important to me because like many people, I had the opportunity to be surrounded by the outdoors in my upbringing. Hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, trapping, even bird-watching are all very frequent and popular activities within the community, and none of it could be possible without conservation. Those before me were able to preserve the rich ecosystems that we all enjoy today, and I feel a moral obligation to do the same for the generations to come after me.

    As stated before, I had grown up in the outdoors, but what really got me interested in this career field was Steven Rinella. For those who don’t know, Steven Rinella is a popular outdoor enthusiast and the host of a show called MeatEater, which documents his adventures hunting and fishing. Rinella has also written a few books, and hosts a weekly podcast. I have been following Steven for a few years now and his media has opened my eyes to the vastness and beauty of the natural world that I didn’t even know existed. Through the different forms of media produced by Steven, I had made the decision to get involved with natural resources and the conservation of them. 

    I graduated High School in the Spring of 2023 and later in the fall began my first year of college at Lake Superior State University. In the fall of 2024 I will continue my education for a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management.

    My goals for working for The UPRCD will be to gain experience working in the field, and to make great connections with partners of The UPRCD.

    Lastly, my favorite thing about the UP is the outdoor opportunities all around. Tons of public land, public waters, trails, and other outdoor recreation are everywhere. I really enjoy knowing that such a unique place with so many opportunities exists like the UP.