Portraits of Acadia: Ethan Kilada

Ethan Kilada, Fish & Feathers intern, teaches a group of children how to cast a fishing rod in a safe child-friendly way. NPS photo by Brady Richards

I was the Fish & Feathers Intern at Acadia for the summer 2024 season, through a partnership between Acadia National Park and Environment for the Americas. A non-profit organization dedicated to connecting the National Park Service with young, diverse professionals to assist with public outreach and engagement programming. Although I haven’t technically worked directly for the park service before, I’ve been able to work alongside it. That’s one of the great things about the NPS and Acadia—there are innumerable organizations working within each park to make it feel special. I applied for this internship because of my passion for fishing and desire to find a way to share a hobby that I love with others who may not otherwise have access to it.

Participants in the Junior Angler program fishing at Lower Hadlock Pond. NPS photo by Brady Richards

During my time as the Fish & Feathers intern, I piloted the Junior Angler program, thanks to the generous contribution from the International Game Fish Organization, who supplied the necessary resources to run the program. I was able to host two-hour-long early-morning fishing clinics, teaching children ranging between the ages of 7-15 years old on how to cast safety, identify fish species, use basic tackle, knot tying, and understand ethical fishing practices. Bringing fishing programs back to Acadia was very impactful for me. With visitation to the park skyrocketing in recent years, it felt great provide people with something new while expanding their knowledge of conservation and ethical fishing. I hope my work this summer will help the Junior Angler program flourish for years to come!

Ethan working with a kid who caught a fish. NPS photo by Brady Richards

My most memorable experience with Acadia was arriving that first evening and taking it all in that this will be my home for the next few months. Driving around the park loop road for the first time and seeing the view of Bar Island, I was filled with gratefulness, excitement, and joy, realizing that I could call Acadia my home.

To me, Acadia is a place of growth and exploration. I will be eternally grateful to Fish & Feathers for providing me with this opportunity—it helped me grow into the person I want to become, and I met lifelong friends along the way.

The staff at Acadia are some of the most caring and helpful people I’ve ever met. They have helped me tremendously with navigating NPS work, creating park programs, and developing my professionalism.

– Ethan Kilada, Fish & Feathers Intern

Ethan talking with a group of smiling kids. NPS photo by Brady Richards

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