Raised in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Prescribed Fire Apprentice Ben Grove had to learn much at a young age about stewardship and wildfire protection in a highly fire-prone area. Taking care of the land was a practice engrained every summer, and the alarming acceleration of climate events made it clear how he should direct his energy. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in history at UC Santa Cruz, focusing on the practices that have brought us to our current relationship with land. After college he realized the best path forward was to find hands-on work to bring about positive change in his environment. When the field of prescribed fire presented itself to him through volunteering with the local prescribed burn association (PBA), the pieces immediately came together and he was hooked. As a prescribed fire apprentice, he hopes to learn as much as he can about how to contribute to this inspiring field.