If I wasn’t kicking back cold brews with my crew, I was searching the ground for little green shit (LGS) to indulge my plant nerdery. Although we were on our second week of training, it felt like a mini-vacation to me. That’s what you get the third time around. At this point, I was refreshed and well versed with the nuances of the job. I was functioning as a co-trainer with a heavy emphasis on team building.
That Sunday, I drove north to Tunkhannock were I got onto Route 6 for my westward travel. It was nice not to be on I-80 for a change. I was headed to Potter County, the northern study area, for the last week of training. I was eager to walk the woods with my botany friends and hoped to pick up some tidbits of knowledge. I was also looking forward to growing capability and camaraderie within my crew. It was a long ride to Galeton and these things were on my mind.
A wave of nostalgia came over me as I pulled into the Nob Creek Inn. I stayed here two previous years, albeit with different faces comprising the crews. I couldn’t help but wonder why I was here again. Before I could examine that thought any further, I was greeted by my crew. They were excited to be there and more excited about the bar not a hundred yards down the road. Indeed, I was lucky the members of my crew were all over twenty-one. I was fortunate two were in their thirties and the youngest had an old soul. There was nothing to prove except a good work ethic and a friendly demeanor. I was happy to except their invitation to the bar down the street — the Perma Stone Inn — where you can eat a large portion and find yourself half in the bag for ten bucks.
A trip to Potter County is never complete without visiting Olga Gallery, Cafe, and Bistro
Looking down 
Handcrafted art 
Yarn, lots of yarn 
Looking up 
Amanda, Danielle, and me at Olga Gallery, Cafe, and Bistro
Having been associated with this study for so long provided a unique opportunity. Although I was technically a student in this training phase, I had a different perspective. I wasn’t consumed by the intricacies of the job like the other trainees. I was in a position to offer my knowledge and clarify and reinforce the material that was taught. I applied my time and attention to my crew. Most importantly, I focused on the kernel of this experience. There was much more than protocol and plant identification. As the weeks went by, this became more clear.
After two intense weeks of training, we are ready to botanize. Those eighty plus hours were a whirlwind tour of Pennsylvania’s flora, an introduction to our crewmates and study areas, and an understanding of our complex data collection protocol. We are glad to hear that we passed all tests with flying colors. Indeed, our botany skills have been fine-tuned and polished. Our team is functioning like a well-oiled machine. We, as plant-nerds, are ready to dive into our field season.
Michael Antonishak (crew leader of the southern study area)
Indeed, we felt that we were ready to tackle the field season. That Friday, we collected data for the first time under supervision. I deliberately chose an easy plot to survey for the crew to get their feet wet. Under easy conditions, we could fine tune our approach. By the end of the day, Danielle and I felt the crew did well. However, we were concerned about the pace. We took over ten hours to do an easy super plot (travel, survey the trees and under story vegetation of 11 subplots, fence mending, and deer impact assessment). The schedule was planned so a super plot and a regular plot (5 subplots) had to be surveyed in a day. The collection window is vital to the study. There were consequences if we fell behind and the quality of the data would be affected.
Curtis, Jonathan, Jerry, Amanda, and Danielle 
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) 
Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum) 
Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis) 
A Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum sp.) 
A nest of mice in a map box at a trailhead
We ended the week with this on our mind — an ambitious schedule that seemed quite impossible. However, the Boys from the South, as we called ourselves, would be up for the challenge. We had our first three day weekend to recuperate from the rigors of training. We would come back strong and with purpose. More importantly, we built the foundation of a strong crew. But, would it be enough to get the job done?
#antonishakboys