Each summer, Yale-Myers Forest Camp is home to an enterprising group of undergraduate student interns learning how to do field-based scientific research through the Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Field Ecology Program. Students spend the summer months working with graduate student and faculty researchers to collect data and process samples in the Yale-Myer Lab, as well as doing their fair share of crashing through the mountain laurel to locate study plots. Maliah Ryan, one of the 2024 Ingalls program participants, provided this reflection on the highs and lows of the field season and life at Yale-Myers Camp.
—Laura Green ’18 MF, Research & Extension Forester, Yale Forests
The silviculture research team, clockwise from back left: Harrison Fain, Kumba Jammeh, Maliah Ryan, and Ava Liberace.
The summer at Yale-Myers Forest was filled with unforgettable moments, both in the field and at camp. It was a perfect blend of adventure, learning, and community building.
Our work on the “Cohort Plots” and the “420 Plots” with Dr. Mark Ashton and Dr. Marlyse Duguid had us deep in the Connecticut woods, identifying tree species, measuring growth, and surveying forest health. It was tough work—especially when we accidentally disturbed a beehive! Between the bees, ticks, spiders, and deer flies, there were definitely a few wild moments. We also hiked through mountain laurel and poison ivy on hot, muggy days and during rainstorms, which only made our experience more memorable and taught us a lot about perseverance and teamwork.
Camp life was a mix of work and play. When we weren’t busy with fieldwork, digging water bars, or fixing the water pump, we found plenty of ways to enjoy our time together. We had movie nights, trips to Buck’s for ice cream, and intense trivia games. Meals were special as we often cooked breakfast and lunch together and shared stories during dinner, which [camp cook] Kumba prepared with her delicious Gambian cuisine. The weekly “happy hour” at Mark’s place was a highlight, providing a chance to relax and connect.
We also enjoyed guest speakers, a slip-n-slide course, and swimming at Bigelow Hollow State Park. Evenings were filled with board games and puzzles such as 7 Wonders and Ticket to Ride, watching reality TV, and attending the Wednesday night seminar series. The horse and oxen logging showcase was another standout. We also had a memorable trip to see the Yard Goats play in Hartford. There was never a dull moment at camp, whether we were laughing and joking in the library or dealing with a surprise rainstorm.
Reflecting on this summer, I’m grateful for the friendships we’ve built and the memories we’ve made. This experience has significantly shaped my view of fieldwork and helped clarify my career aspirations. I’ve gained valuable insights into environmental work and learned more about my personal strengths and interests. We even ended the summer with matching friendship bracelets and mosquito head nets—because nothing says ‘team spirit’ like coordinating our bug protection!
—Maliah Ryan ’25 Trinity College
