Growing up in the mountains of rural Colorado, I’ve spent most of my life around rivers, fisheries, and wild places. Those experiences didn’t just shape my interests; they shaped the direction of my education and the work I want to do. Being selected as a Grossman Scholar is meaningful to me because it supports that path and recognizes my commitment to protecting the natural resources that have had such a strong influence on my life.
My name is Jakob Ducklow, and I am pursuing a degree in fisheries and wildlife and ecosystem science and stewardship. I am currently attending Colorado Mountain College while also working toward my fisheries degree at Paul Smith’s College. This path is helping me build a well-rounded understanding of aquatic systems by studying in both the Colorado Rockies and the Adirondacks, two regions that face very different environmental challenges. Much of my experience has centered around the Yampa River, where I’ve conducted water
quality sampling and served as a Yampa River Ambassador, helping connect the community to the river and promote stewardship. I’ve also worked as a fly fishing guide for Steamboat Flyfisher, which has given me a firsthand understanding of how important healthy fisheries are to both ecosystems and local communities.
In addition, I’ve worked with Friends of the Yampa, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Forest Service, Upper Colorado Wild and Scenic, and Yampatika, gaining field experience in electrofishing, river surveys on the Colorado River, and conservation work in Dinosaur National Monument, where I contributed to the Dragonfly Mercury Project. I also currently intern with OnWater Fish, where I’m learning how data, recreation, and conservation intersect.
My perspective on conservation has expanded through experiences beyond Colorado. Living in Puerto Rico, I worked as part of the sea turtle conservation team with Tortugueros del CEN in the Corredor Ecológico del Noreste, where I participated in patrols, nest monitoring, and hatchling protection. I also traveled to Costa Rica to work with Fish for Change, where I saw the challenges communities face with water systems, habitat conservation, and the impacts of dams, particularly on their Jaguar populations. These experiences showed me that while environmental challenges vary by region, the need for informed, collaborative conservation is universal.
These experiences have shaped my goal of building a career focused on restoring river systems, protecting fisheries, and improving watershed health. I am especially interested in riparian ecosystems, where restoration work can have a lasting impact on both the environment and the communities that depend on it. The Grossman Scholarship will play a key role in helping me
reach these goals. By supporting my education, it allows me to continue building both academic knowledge and hands-on experience while staying connected to the landscapes that inspired me to pursue this path.
I’m grateful for this opportunity and for the support from Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. This scholarship is not just helping me continue my education; it is helping me move forward toward a career dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural environments that have shaped my life.
