Angus Pitulla grew up in Stillwater, MN. He has long been passionate about the outdoors and found a good fit at UMD in the Environmental & Outdoor Education program.
Why did you choose UMD?
As a kid, my family used to take a yearly trip up to Duluth. I always loved the lake, and the perspective it gave me looking out across it. There's something really special about being a little guy, on a big hill, next to the largest lake in the world. I’ve also just always loved being outdoors and learning about all the different little details within it—and oh boy, does Duluth have a lot of outdoor spaces.
What do you like most about your program?
I’ve always said that my two favorite things about the Outdoor and Environmental Education program here at UMD are the community and connections. The program is small enough to where you really get to know everyone, students and professors alike, in all your classes. By the time you’re a senior like me, you pretty much know every name and face in the program. The connections are also amazing. The Duluth area has virtually every avenue in environmental education you could ask for, and the professors are happy to connect you to people in your desired career path.
What has been your proudest accomplishment or your most meaningful experience at UMD so far?
One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at UMD came just a few weeks ago when the class that I TA for, Nature Interpretation, took a trip to the bog. Bogs are delicate, unique ecosystems that contain so many super cool plants and animals with wild adaptations. So, after taking that class, getting to return to the bog as a teacher was very special to me.
Share what you like to do for fun, or tell us a fun fact about yourself.
On the inside, I’m outside, all the time. If I’m not in class, working at Hawk Ridge, or coordinating for the UMD Outdoor Program, you’d be hard pressed to find me anywhere but in the woods. We’re so lucky to be able to live in a city as green as Duluth, and I take advantage of that every day.