David Robertson fell in love with Colorado in the 1950s. He met his wife, Janet, as her rock-climbing instructor, and they married in 1956. Together, they climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers and backpacked extensively in the West and Alaska. In 1969, David and three others were the first to ski the 110-mile journey across glaciers from Skagway to Juneau.
David dedicated himself to protecting the West and was one of WRA’s first board members; he served on WRA’s Board of Directors on two separate occasions and was selected as the organization’s first “Volunteer of the Year.”
David loved the mountains. He especially loved how they bonded people together and provided sanctuary for him and others. David was also aware that not everyone had the opportunity to explore the outdoors as he had.
David passed away in 2019, but his legacy lives on. In honor of David’s passion for Colorado and his dedication to conservation, WRA is partnering with Janet and the Robertson family to offer the David Robertson Pathfinder Internship to share the wonders of the mountains and the West with a new generation of young professionals gaining experience in the conservation field.
WRA is especially excited about this partnership to support individuals who have not traditionally been included in conservation. Pursuing an inclusive and diverse organization not only is the right thing to do but also improves conservation outcomes for us all. The David Robertson Pathfinder Internship is a step in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation workforce that represents all people.
Pathfinder Internships will be awarded annually through 2022 and beyond as we raise additional funds. The positions will be full-time paid summer internships and may be eligible for a housing stipend in their host city.
The internships will be formally announced later this winter. If you are interested in supporting interns or fellows at WRA, contact Vice President of Development Theresa Bushman at theresa.bushman@westernresources.org. To stay up to date on all opportunities to work with WRA, sign up for our Job and Internship email alerts at www.westernresourceadvocates.org/jobs.
