Where are they now: Aracelia Skridulis

Not many people can say one of their first conservation jobs overlapped with one of the worst natural disasters to hit a region. Aracelia Skridulis was a SAWS crew member in 2024 and experienced just that when Hurricane Helene came through. Having spent most of her life in western North Carolina, working in the region was already special. She had seen the increased demand for recreation spaces on our forest and the impacts that was having and this was her opportunity to contribute to solutions. After Hurricane Helene tore through, Aracelia had a chance to see that SAWS was more than just clearing brush, improving drainage or bucking trees. “It was amazing how well they took care of everyone during that time,” Skridulis said. “SAWS went above and beyond to try to get people supplies like gas, food, and water. For a nonprofit to do all that, it just really showed the organization’s true colors.”

Hurricane Helene was not the only lasting memory from Aracelia’s crew. There were many small moments that made the experience special. One morning, while the crew hiked into the work site, they heard rustling in the bushes ahead. Everyone’s first thought was that a deer was working through the area. To the crew’s shock, a bobcat with its morning squirrel meal in its mouth stepped out onto the trail. Arcelia briefly made eye contact with the cat before it jumped back into the brush. “It’s so special seeing wildlife in its home and it felt special to see an elusive animal like that,” she said.

Now, Aracelia has started her first permanent conservation position as a Wildland Firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. She credits her positions with SAWS for making this possible. “I just never thought it (a career in conservation) was realistic for me. But getting to experience the job and see there were ways I could make it work, that it just meant some sacrifices, opened my eyes,” she said. Not only was she provided with an opportunity, Aracelia was also taught a variety of new skills and had the chance to put these into practice every day. This gave her the know-how needed to apply for a join a fire crew when the position opened.

“I’m over the moon about getting to work in conservation at such an important time and its just worth trying to make it work,” she said. Aracelia also added, “the people I have met in trails and fire are truly some of the coolest, kindest people I’ve gotten to know.”