2011 ELC Internship Portfolio

Warren Wilson College

Portfolio of Experience

Environmental Leadership Center Internship Program 2011

Alden Picard, N.C. Coastal Federation intern

ELC Internship Program

Environmental Leadership Center

In the 1970’s, environmentalism was primarily the purview of scientists focused on solving what were seen as environmental problems. Studies published on the consequences of a degraded environment were leveraged to create the sweeping legislation of the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and others. The science community showed clearly that the industrialization of the nation was taking its toll.

Environmental leadership is woven into the fabric of Warren Wilson, grounded in the College’s rich history of place and purpose. Since 1996, the College’s Environmental Leadership Center (ELC) has served to “raise awareness of local, national, and global environmental realities and to inspire caring citizens—especially our youth—to reflect, to communicate and to act as responsible caretakers of the earth.” The ELC’s programs weave through the College’s Triad of academics, work and service that combined provides students with a holistic experiential education unique to higher education.

As we moved into the 1980’s and 90’s, accelerated globalization fundamentally broadened the environmental debate. Access to global resources pushed aggressive development deep into every continent. Social and economic thinkers and activists joined the chorus of environmentalists demanding change as environmental degradation became clearly connected to social injustices and economic inequities worldwide. The concept of sustainability emerged to create a framework in which global resource extraction and industrialization could continue while environmental and social integrity was sustained.

At the beginning of this new century, it has become clear that neither the environment, societies, nor economies sustain, but undergo continuous change. The issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, population growth and resource scarcity are showing us just how dramatic these changes can be. What we need now are systems that are resilient; systems that are capable of adapting to dramatic change, durable enough to resist and recover from significant stresses—environmental, social or economic—and that recognize the environment as the source of life on this planet.

Environmental Leadership Center Internship Program provides Warren Wilson students with opportunities to engage deeply with organizations working to build resilient systems. From engaging in the work of the Audubon Society’s Project Puffin reestablishing nearly extinct eastern North American puffin colonies, to Asheville City’s Sustainability Office working to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions, to CooperRiis Healing Farm using nature and the arts to help adults cope with mental illness, our interns forge life-long commitments to environmental and social responsibility and pathways to real-world careers. For these students, who engage each day in Warren Wilson College’s unique liberal arts model of academics, work and service, internships integrate this Triad learning with real-world work. Whether focused upon the economic, cultural, or scientific aspects of environmental and social issues, students work with mentors to learn firsthand that these complex challenges require interdisciplinary solutions. They come to understand the scope of work and the degree of commitment required to create adaptable and durable systems in a changing world.

To learn more, visit the website at www.warren-wilson. edu/~elc/ or contact Ellen Querin, ELC Program Coordinator, querin@warren-wilson.edu; 828.771.3006 or Stan Cross, ELC Education Director, at scross@warrenwilson.edu; 828.771.3782 Consider supporting the Internship Program. Your support enables Warren Wilson College students to experience the Triad of academics, work and service and to prepare for careers that will benefit our communities and our world. To learn more about making a gift to support the Environmental Leadership Center’s Internship Program, contact Rosie McDermott in the College’s Advancement Office: rmcdermott@warren-wilson.edu or 828.771.2088.

Warren Wilson College PO Box 9000 Asheville, NC 28815-9000 www.warren-wilson.edu

CooperRiis Healing Farm Community: Intern Laura Miess

Set in rural North Carolina, CooperRiis is a therapeutic healing farm community that aims to empower people struggling with mental illness. As an intern, my job entailed being a pair of helping hands in whatever capacity was needed. For the most part, my work was divided into lifeskills, farming, and milieu. There are six life skills on the farm: garden, animal barn, art barn, wood shop, housekeeping, and kitchen. Farming entailed working with the garden manager and focusing less on residents and more on agriculture. Milieu is the evening and weekend support. While working milieu shifts we accompanied residents on weekly outings, planned movie nights, or spent time with people who were struggling and needed extra support. Though my concrete accomplishments were obvious to other people, I came to realize that the smaller things sometimes made a bigger difference to residents. Playing music, making people laugh, and encouraging residents to do the things they love often empowered them to be proactive in their recovery. When residents come to CooperRiis, the first question asked is “What’s your dream?” As staff, we aim to teach residents to learn how to empower themselves, how to regulate their emotions, and how to continue to feed their passions.

While gardening, I often thought about how people interact with food. I found myself thinking about crops, agricultural cycles, and the beautiful, nutritious meals that appeared for us every day. I anticipated that a much larger percentage of the population was involved in food production and expected that working with plants was one of the main alternative therapies that residents engaged in. It is unfortunate that only a few residents take part in something CooperRiis is so proud of. Now back at Warren Wilson, I’ve begun to consider food systems more seriously. I’ve re-kindled a passion for food security, and have started to attend hunger-related service projects as well as write about the importance of having connection with the land our food grows on.

“Though my concrete accomplishments were obvious to other people, I came to realize that the smaller things sometimes made a bigger difference to residents.”

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CooperRiis Healing Farm Community: Intern Stephanie Ng Ping Cheung

CooperRiis Healing Farm is an intentionally designed and built community for individuals dealing with challenges of mental illness and is guided by its Life Skills program. Taking part in Life Skills helps residents learn how to navigate personal responsibility, punctuality and working as part of a team.

Much of my time was focused on the agricultural responsibility to the farm. Another focus was rotating between the different crews depending on what crew needed extra support. I eventually settled in working mostly with the art barn and the wood shop. I learned a lot from these two crews that complemented each other, allowing me to improve skills as a leader. The types of work varied. With the art barn these included felting bracelets or felting squares which were sewn together to make a community blanket. I also did clay work assisting in bowl, plate and mug making. With the wood shop crew, projects varied from building storage and shade structures to building West African drums.

A significant success was the relationships and bonds formed with the residents. I played music and sang songs, went for ice cream, watched movies, had deep, meaningful and intimate conversations. On my last day, multiple residents thanked me for listening, for making them laugh, for making them smile.

I needed to thank them for showing me that there is strength in being vulnerable with people and that seeking support plays a huge role on the road to recovery.

Making real and meaningful connections with people was my biggest achievement, no doubt.

I am excited to go back to school and incorporate what I have learned. I believe that communication skills, the ability and capacity to listen and help problem solve are transferable into all areas of our lives and I am thankful to have had to opportunity to grow and evolve in this way.

“I am excited to go back to school and incorporate what I have learned. I believe that communication skills, the ability and capacity to listen and help problem solve are transferable into all areas of our lives and I am thankful to have had to opportunity to grow and evolve in this way.�

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Audubon Seabird Restoration Project: Intern Haley Walsh

Project Puffin began in 1973 to bring back historically nesting sea birds to the Gulf of Maine by transplanting chicks from Newfoundland and hand rearing the pufflings until they became fledglings. I am in a blind by 5:30 a.m. conducting a feeding stint. Feeding stints are 3-hour observational periods where one watches marked nests or burrows and records the number, species, and size of each fish being brought in the bill load of a puffin or tern to its chicks. There is a lot of time to reflect when you are sitting in a blind. I began to question what we were even doing on these islands. We had brought the puffins back; why not step away and let them flourish? As I looked out to the ocean at the lobster boats, I answered my own question. Gulls were swarming the bait thrown out by the fisherman to feed to their chicks, while other gulls were simply loafing and watching, waiting to swoop down on the helpless tern and puffin chicks. If the human presence disappears on these islands, the gulls will take over and push out the puffin and tern populations.

The night that the islands closed for the research season, we were rushed off to a huge fund-raising dinner and auction. It was a “meet the interns” party where people paid to have dinner with us and learn about the project. I want someone else to sit at that dinner next year, reflecting on the things they learned and moments they shared while being a part of this project. I have always been fond of birds; I even have one tattooed on my leg. It wasn’t until this summer when I had the honor of being able to handle birds in their natural habitat that I realized how much I really love these beautiful creatures and I am confident that this will not be my last field job where I work with birds.

“It wasn’t until this summer when I had the honor of being able to handle birds in their natural habitat that I realized how much I really love these beautiful creatures and I am confident that this will not be my last field job where I work with birds.”

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“What I really enjoy is the public aspect of science— the fundraising and public education that makes the intense lab work possible. Condensing ten years of research into a one-minute explanation takes practice and talent and I look forward to the challenge.”

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Intern Diana Sisson

This summer I worked for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, in the Marine Invasions Lab, more specifically with the Nearshore Survey Project. The Nearshore Project involved looking at the predator-prey interactions between a native grass shrimp and their predators. This ten-year survey uses a three-pronged sampling approach to thoroughly investigate the relationship. First, there are “sweeps,” where we skim parallel to shore with dip nets at specific depths. Second, there is sampling with seine nets. This sampling method gives researchers an idea of the diversity and density of the predators abundant around where the shrimp reside. The last sampling method is “tethering”; shrimps are collected, and fitted with small hooks to their dorsal carapace. They are placed relatively stationary back in the water, and samplers hope to catch any predator that comes to eat the shrimp and get caught on the hook.

Our most interesting day we caught a Snakehead—the first to ever be found in the Rhode River. In being among the group to capture the first of an invasive species, I had the opportunity to experience the press-release process, as well as explore the media’s relationship with the research world. I was featured in a two-minute segment on the find on the evening news, which was rather exciting.

I was extremely grateful for this experience, as it highlighted for me the reality that I do not actually want to be a research scientist. What I really enjoy is the public aspect of science—the fundraising and public education that makes the intense lab work possible.

Condensing ten years of research into a one-minute explanation takes practice and talent and I look forward to the challenge.

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Montreat Conference Center: Intern Katie George

This summer I worked at Montreat Conference Center as the Outdoor Education Ranger/Rover. That boiled down to two jobs, Ranger and Outdoor Ed instructor. My time was split between working with each of these positions. As a Ranger I maintained Montreat’s trails and lead public hikes. Working with the Clubs program, I was in charge of the Outdoor Education classes for Juniors, Junior Highs and Senior Highs. Each week I taught three, 2 ½ hour sessions on outdoor skills and environmental education.

My greatest achievement for the summer was pulling off the 3-day backpacking trips.

As an Outdoor Leadership major, I have been working on logistics, planning, how to control a group, and what safety keys to keep in mind. However, this was the first time I put all of it into play at once. From menus to routes, I was responsible for all the logistical plans for the backpacking trips. I came in under budget and no major accidents occurred on my watch.

Even better, feedback from participants, who claimed they never liked the Outdoor Ed lessons in previous years, had really enjoyed the trip!

They say you can’t really know something until you teach it, and it’s true. Working with the clubs groups, I taught sustainability and was taught in turn. Trail work was an exercise in analyzing sustainability due to the delicate balance between providing access to beautiful places, and preserving those beautiful places by keeping them inaccessible. Environmentally, the mountain ecosystems are delicate and erosion is a serious problem; trails increase the amount of erosion that occurs in an area.

I enjoyed the balance of this job, working with both the Rangers and the Clubs programs. As a double major in Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Studies (Education), this internship matched my interests wonderfully. It was empowering to see my work come together successfully and be able to say, “This is what I’ve been learning.”

“They say you can’t really know something until you teach it, and it’s true. Working with the clubs groups, I taught sustainability and was taught in turn.”

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“One thing I am sure, I will need to be an example of change, always within my career, but more importantly, within my citizenry.

Long-term, sustainable change comes from the bottom-up...”

Asheville City Sustainability Office: Intern Kesari Fleury

For the summer of 2011, I interned with the Office of Sustainability, with the City of Asheville. I took on a plethora of tasks, some for a short period of time and others for the entirety of my internship. My position was stated and my objectives were clear since my first meeting with my supervisor. There was never a day just like another. Each day consisted of a variety of tasks, altering depending on the day. The first two weeks of the internship focused on setting up a guerilla marketing campaign to raise awareness on the city’s LED streetlight project, which had just been implemented in the River Arts District. With the help of local artists a stencil reading “AVL LED” was created. Signs were put up near all the LED streetlights and were displayed during the River Arts Stroll weekend. Another task that was very important to my position was providing support for the Sustainable Advisory Committee on the Environment and Energy (SACEE). This citizen based committee strongly resonated with me.

In classes I learned about making policies, but what I experienced this summer demonstrated that the most important aspect is how the community is involved. If the public is involved in the processes and they have incorporated their ideas, then the momentum is much bigger. Only with the collaboration of the citizens can the large scale, game-changing environmental policies be implemented. I am still searching for the best practice of bringing the public and the government into the same conversation. One thing I am sure, I will need to be an example of change, always within my career, but more importantly, within my citizenry. Long-term, sustainable change comes from the bottom-up, and even if I work in the “up” all I need is my citizenry to initiate change at the bottom. This is what the City of Asheville, and more importantly, the Office of Sustainability taught me. With all of the work this office has done to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle for Asheville, most of the accomplishments have come from their efforts to include citizens in the process.

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Discover Life in America: Intern Eric Zimdars

Since 1998, Discover Life in America Inc. (DLIA) has been coordinating the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), a project which aims to identify and document all forms of life found within Great Smoky Mountain National Park. To date, DLIA has discovered 910 new species to science and 7,101 species new to the park. DLIA highly values their interns.

Historically, they’ve only offered two internships but this year they added Environmental Education and Media/PR Internships. I am proud to say I was the first Media/PR intern.

My duties began by familiarizing myself with the media outlets DLIA used. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and the DLIA website were all improved upon by the time I left. I spent many hours hunting down articles on the Internet and thumbing through old binders of print articles in order to create a reputable list of publications. I updated the homepage with press releases on upcoming events. The DLIA Facebook and YouTube pages gained wider audiences and new content. I also published articles in the local and regional print media.

Beyond office work I took part in various ecological field assignments— including two days searching for freshwater sponges. The ultimate field experience came from a newly formed ATBI project entitled Tree Teams. DLIA partnered with a volunteer scientist to create an experimental model for studying the relationships between arthropods and specific species of trees. Before my internship ended, I was able to participate in two American Beech surveys.

The work didn’t end in the field. Sorting out specimens under a microscope almost made my eyeballs fall out.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park was my backyard for an entire summer.

Hiking trails, exploring streams, swimming in mountain pools, herping (hunting for reptiles and amphibians), identifying trees, and stuffing my face with berries were my main pastimes.

In retrospect I grew immensely as a person. From the educational experiences to evening conversations with new friends, my perceptions on life greatly expanded.

“I am proud to say I was the first Media/PR intern. My duties began by familiarizing myself with the media outlets DLIA used. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and the DLIA website were all improved upon by the time I left.”

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North Carolina Coastal Federation: Intern Alden Picard

“Organisms in these ecosystems are so specialized they do not have time to adapt to the rapidly encroaching developed world.

My job as educator was to raise awareness of these issues.”

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The North Carolina Coastal Federation is the state’s only non-profit that focuses exclusively on protecting and restoring the coast of North Carolina through education, advocacy, and habitat preservation and restoration. My position as Education Intern gave me the responsibility of leading and facilitating education programs at Hammocks Beach State Park. The programs consisted of a Discovery Table demonstration along with an educational hike across Bear Island. My mornings were hectic as I equipped my cart with the essential props for the day: seashells of all kinds, a sea turtle skull, a bucket and net are necessary. Once assembled, I roll the cart to the ferry dock where visitors are awaiting the first ferry. I set up my props on a table under the pavilion. Some visitors are curious and approach with questions right away; others require encouragement. Shortly after the ferry departs I have time throw the cast net. I spot a school of mullet within casting range catching ten of them on the first toss. By the time the next group arrives, I may have all of the following species: Mullet, Bluefish, Pompano, Croaker, White perch, Flounder, Pin Fish, Spade fish, Look Down fish, Menhaden, Sting Ray, and possibly a Blue Crab from the crab pot.

The estuaries of North Carolina are extremely fragile ecosystems and encroaching development has them in extreme danger. Estuaries are comprised mostly of water and the smallest amount of pollution or disturbance compromises their integrity. Clean water, finfish, and shellfish are only some of the resources in danger from storm water runoff and habitat destruction. Organisms in these ecosystems are so specialized they do not have time to adapt to the rapidly encroaching developed world. My job as educator was to raise awareness of these issues by stating the mission and philosophy of the Federation and explaining all the beneficial ecosystem services that the Eastern Oyster provides.

“Social media is an effective and inclusive way to spread information, and information can empower people to take action. When I learn about some new action or event, I try to spread the knowledge through Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail so that other people might be prompted to make change.”

Dogwood Alliance: Intern Morgan Steele As the Non-Profit Management Intern, I was given five tasks for the summer. The first was to complete the solicitation license registration application process. In order to solicit money in most states and D.C., non-profit organizations need to apply for a solicitation license each year. My second priority was to conduct the “office purge and improvement.” My third priority was to coordinate the search for a new tenant to occupy a rental office suite in the building. My fourth priority was to assist with mailings and updating the database. My final priority was to facilitate the day-to-day activities of the office.

My internship with Dogwood Alliance taught me that the most effective and important way to implement change is by changing policy. With that knowledge, I decided to become a political science major in order to understand the avenues for creating and changing policy. My internship definitely helped me grow as a person. I am more capable of communicating in different situations now from my experience with coordinating different projects among different people. From the independent nature of my work, I learned to make good decisions quickly, to trust myself, and to stay “one step ahead of the game” in my work. Each day I find myself applying the things I learned from my internship into my life, especially in my activist efforts. Now, I try to think of the most efficient and inclusive way to change policy. Recently, for example, I decided that it was a more effective use of my time to call politicians instead of going to a protest. Social media is an effective and inclusive way to spread information, and information can empower people to take action. When I learn about some new action or event, I try to spread the knowledge through Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail so that other people might be prompted to make change.

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“The most valuable concept that I learned this summer was how a non-profit organization works. Everyone has to make decisions and everyone has to get their hands dirty.�

French Broad River Keeper: Intern Gus Keller

The Riverkeeper organization was originally designed to preserve the Hudson River for recreational fisherman. In 1986, the organization changed its name to Riverkeeper. In 1999, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. founded the Waterkeeper Alliance to support the Riverkeeper organization. The Clean Water Act put the French Broad River on its way towards restoration. In 2001 the French Broad River was granted a Riverkeeper.

This summer I was granted the opportunity to work with the French Broad Riverkeeper on his mission to defend the French Broad River. I was assigned three major assignments: the Save the French Broad Campaign, bacteria sampling in the Swannanoa River, and the Muddy Water Watch program.

The Save the French Broad Campaign was designed to help establish an economic foundation solely dedicated to restoration projects. One element of the campaign was to host a nine-day paddle trip. Once the trip was over, I began working on the bacterial analysis of the Swannanoa River. The Swannanoa River feeds into the French Broad River. The bacterial analysis measured the amount of coliforms and e. coli present in various sections of the Swannanoa River. During the final weeks of my internship, I, participated in Muddy Water Watch events. The Muddy Water Watch developed by the Waterkeeper Alliance focuses on erosion issues and to monitor logging operations and construction sites. The most destructive pollutant in the French Broad is sediment.

The most valuable concept that I learned this summer was how a non-profit organization works.

Everyone has to make decisions and everyone has to get their hands dirty. The leader of the non-profit must be inspiring and above all must believe in the organization’s mission statement. I would recommend this internship to any person who has a whole lot of faith in the environmental movement and wants to contribute to the positive change. Working with the Riverkeeper provides numerous opportunities to do so.

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Western North Carolina Alliance: Intern Chelsea Brandau

My internship with the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) began the very first week of May 2011. The organization aims to empower citizens to be activists for livable communities and the environment. Issues the WNCA addresses include those pertaining to water, forests, land use planning, and transportation.

One of the biggest projects I completed was to research all the possible means to protect rural land from undesirable development (conservation easements, transfer of development rights, zoning etc). This research was compiled into a comprehensive power point presentation and written report.

I know from personal experience that rural communities face development pressure as economic growth occurs in their region. It is important for communities to realize tools available to maintain their rural character and heritage, and then direct growth as best they can. I assisted in planning upcoming events such as the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, the John Muir event, and the Annual WNCA meeting. I attended meetings working with citizens who were working to address what they felt were the most pressing environmental problems in their region. I also monitored weekly events in the North Carolina General Assembly concerning environmental legislation. If anything important was changed, passed, or vetoed, it was my responsibility to make revisions to the WNCA Legislative Update webpage. Keeping the Legislative Update page is critical, as it provides an easy way for members and concerned citizens aware of important environmental legislation in the state.

I came to appreciate the importance of activism to achieve community goals. I realized I have the potential to be so much more active in environmental and political issues that directly influence my life and my community. It is easy to make excuses. We are too busy, too apathetic, or to frustrated with the system. But action is necessary, otherwise we will never see the world become what we want it to be.

“I came to appreciate the importance of activism to achieve community goals. I realized I have the potential to be so much more active in environmental and political issues that directly influence my life and my community.�

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Black Mountain Community Garden Intern Remington White

As a result of this internship, my ability to facilitate and lead groups of people with confidence greatly improved. I have always had an innate sense of leadership but being in real-life situations that required my supervision and direction harness these qualities of my character. Facilitating large volunteer groups was really empowering and strengthened my leadership abilities. Getting my hands dirty and actually experiencing what it’s like to maintain a garden first-hand has taught more about sustainable agriculture than everything I have learned at Warren Wilson! I am a very tactile and visual learner. I have to be out in the field touching, seeing, tasting, and smelling in order to fully grasp and appreciate a method of work.

Organic community gardens nourish the individual, the community, and the Earth by improving food security/resilience, putting nutritious food on tables, and working with nature rather than against it. Community gardens provide food for low-income families and also act as an educational and inspirational model of mutual cooperation. Working at a community garden has cemented my future. The experience has led me to look at graduate schools where I can continue my education in social work and community organizing. I now look at the world as both a global and local citizen and I see the interconnectedness of societal issues. It all ultimately comes down to starting where you are, with what you have and the people you have made connections with. From there, all things unfold, as they should.

“The experience has led me to look at graduate schools where I can continue my education in social work and community organizing. I now look at the world as both a global and local citizen and I see the interconnectedness of societal issues.”

Intern Alena Leonatti

I learned many skills from the garden that form the foundation for sustainable agriculture, and I hope to use them in my career as well as in my own garden one day.

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The Black Mountain Community Garden seeks to provide healthy, fresh food for those in need, provide space for individuals to garden, and educate all age groups about the importance of growing food. Garden plots are available for rent and the garden has a unique solution for increasing the amount of produce donated back to the community. Ten percent of the bed is marked off, amounting to about three square feet, and crops are raised for donation. Produce for donation is also grown in “Plant a Row for the Hungry” beds and volunteer labor maintains these beds. The Black Mountain Community Garden is a successful model of a community garden sought out by other communities.

I taught garden lessons for children, planted winter squash, did tastings of radishes they had planted earlier in the season. Mondays and Thursdays we harvested from the donation beds. The produce was taken to Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries, St. James Episcopal Church, or to the Carver Community Center for distribution. Twice a week Remi and I coordinated volunteer groups, one of my favorite tasks. Often we worked beside them pulling weeds, organizing the shed, mulching paths, digging potatoes, plus other odds and ends.

Giving quality, nutritious food to people who need it most but have the least access to it is very powerful. I learned many skills from the garden that form the foundation for sustainable agriculture, and I hope to use them in my career as well as in my own garden one day. I notice myself paying attention to little things around me that I didn’t before, like the way soil is managed on campus or the way the Warren Wilson garden crew plants beds.

Environmental Quality Institute: Intern Stacy Edmond

The Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) focuses on water quality, and its impact on the health of all life. EQI conducts analysis of water samples collected by volunteers at various sites near rivers, streams, and creeks. Along with strenuous lab research, EQI provides statistical analysis and a documented interpretation of the data presented as an annual report.

My main job responsibilities were conducting five analyses on water samples: turbidity, TSS (Total Suspended Solids), alkalinity, conductivity and pH. Other responsibilities were entering data, washing bottles, and setting up kits for the next group. I also recorded data on chain of custodies. Volunteers were required to fill out this form every time they collected samples. If a sample was too extreme, the chain of custody was a resource that assisted in understanding what may have happened on collection day. Nearly all of my time was spent in a laboratory. For every twenty samples I would run a duplicate to insure the data was accurate. This was achieved by taking the difference between the two results of the same sample and the difference had to be between a certain control limit for that particular analysis. Duplicates ensure consistency within a sample.

One of my greatest achievements was realizing the importance of my responsibilities. I knew that my work as intern was for the greater good and of interest to communities all across Western North Carolina.

My second greatest achievement was being able to distinguish the connections among each analysis. I would find myself trying to make out the correlations each analysis had to the other and how this would affect environments. Little by little I was beginning to put the pieces together and seeing the overall picture. Working at EQI allowed me to see the importance behind my analysis, and understand that we play an important part in helping maintain the environment. My internship at EQI inspired me to seek similar work after I graduate.

“Working at EQI allowed me to see the importance behind my analysis, and understand that we play an important part in helping maintain the environment.�

Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center: Intern Mandy Wegmann

The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center is filled with marshes, marine wetlands, forests, and several miles of beautiful undeveloped beaches that now serve as habitat for coastal wildlife including the threatened species, Loggerhead Sea Turtles. As a sea turtle intern, I was responsible for monitoring nesting activity, relocating nests, assisting any stranded turtles, reporting depredations, and doing inventory on nests after hatchling emergence.

During my time as an intern over 300 nests were laid on South and Sand Islands. There are many jobs where one may not see the fruits of their labor until much later or maybe even ever. This job was not like that. My accomplishments were very apparent everyday throughout the season. As each day more and more nests were laid, protected, monitored, and cared for I knew that the work I was doing was good. Though, one moment shines when reflecting on this summer; it was the night I saw an entire nest hatch. I witnessed tons of tiny little heads poking out of the sand. Slowly, they were pushing their way out from under the surface. Once a few were speeding towards the ocean all of a sudden all of them started pouring out from the nest. Over a hundred baby sea turtles crawled simultaneously towards the light reflecting on the water. I was overcome with joy to marvel at this triumphant event. Although the job was glorious in many ways, there were also challenges. Often, for natural reasons, some of the turtles would be found dead or undeveloped in the nest. After a few times of witnessing this I became somewhat desensitized and aware that this is also a large part of the natural cycle of life.

I realized more than ever that I am made for field work. I have learned that I wanted to work outside, mostly alone or with small groups of people, and specifically with animals.

Working with Loggerhead Sea Turtles was absolutely a life changing experience for me.

“I realized more than ever that I am made for field work. I have learned that I wanted to work outside, mostly alone or with small groups of people, and specifically with animals. Working with loggerhead sea turtles was absolutely a life changing experience for me�

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“One of the most important things that this internship has given me is a passion for learning. I want to explore my passions and further grow and develop my environmental ethic.�

The Nature Conservancy, Long Island: Intern Marie Orton

During my internship, my mission was to act as a piping plover steward in the Hamptons of Long Island, New York. The primary goals of a plover steward are to protect the piping plovers from human and other predators. When the program was first started on Long Island, there were just over 100 pairs, but through conservation efforts, this number has increased to around 420. I was given the task of performing any and all necessary actions to protect the piping plovers and least terns from actions of take or predation. These actions included frequent monitoring of plover sites, erecting symbolic fencing around nests, erecting predator exclosures over plover nests, and building off-road vehicle fencing to close the beaches to driving. While my main job was to monitor the birds, on occasion I was also asked to aid in other tasks, such as trail maintenance, saltmarsh sparrow banding, and preparing for fundraising functions.

Through the diligence and commitment to the protection of these birds, the piping plovers had a fairly productive nesting season. The Nature Conservancy team also had the success of two separate fundraising events in which the Long Island Chapter raised $500,000 and $700,000 for their programs.

One of the most important things that this internship has given me is a passion for learning. I want to explore my passions and further grow and develop my environmental ethic. I discovered that I have a stronger spirit and capacity for survival than I ever realized. At the same time, I also realized that I am still young and need time to discover more about myself before I will be independent enough to launch myself completely into a career. Overall, this experience was something I would never give up in a million years, and I am so pleased to have been given the chance to expand myself.

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Great Smoky Mountains NP—Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center: Intern Keaton Rodland

In 1934 Congress chartered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and in 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated it. The Smokies is the most visited national park. After receiving a letter of congratulations, I realized I knew nothing about where I was going to be working. My first week, training week, would be my first visit ever to the Smokies.

Most of the days I spent in the GSMNP felt diverse. Whether it was bear baiting, salamander collection, helping out at the visitors center, or mapping streams with a GPS I was never displeased. One of the hardest challenges I encountered was determing appropriate behavior in a government uniform both as a mentor to high school interns and an Appalachian educator to the public. Educating the public about air quality through a pop-up exhibit was a challenge. I could have let the public read the exhibit, but I wanted to tell them in a fun and attentive way. In order to achieve this I tried different approaches. This part of my job taught me about public relations and the details needed for successful and positive educational interactions. I had to assess the audience within seconds. What I said and how I said it varied depending mostly on age. I had 10 seconds to get a message out. While my delivery never felt perfect, I was satisfied with my progression of information. People are open to listening to environmental problems on their vacation to the Smokies, but need motivation to really try and change it.

I will carry the knowledge I gained about the air quality in and around the Smokies into my life and educational career. A huge part of what will bleed into my every day life and future career are the people skills I gained from the public interaction. Co-facilitating educational activities for people of all ages helped me become comfortable with educating people of all ages. The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to teach and learn about Appalachian history and environmental impact.

“I will carry the knowledge I gained about the air quality in and around the Smokies into my life and educational career.The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to teach and learn about Appalachian history and environmental impact.”

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National Climatic Data Center: Intern Arayah Larson

The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is a part of The Department of Commerce and more directly, a segment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today, NCDC stores over five petabytes of data along with tens of millions of paper weather records. NCDC is also the proud home of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society’s State of the Climate Report, a peer-reviewed annual report that analyzes the global climate.

I worked as the Communications Intern for NCDC. This usually meant editing or drafting press releases, memos and marketing materials. Specifically, I edited internal materials like the NCDC General Briefing and the 2010 Annual Report, compiled the 2011 Accomplishments for submission to the Department of Commerce and helped draft and edit press releases for events and publications. My second priority was to accomplish a few of my own projects. One was the Display on the 5th Floor, which showcases weather observation instruments and data management history at NCDC. However, the project which I am most proud to have accomplished, as I believe it held the most value to NCDC, was redesigning the brochure. The new brochure includes updated language, is written with a fresh marketing plan in mind, employs clean lines, and is intriguing to the eye. This was the first in a line of new marketing materials which I helped blueprint. To give perspective, the brochure went through seven cover page drafts, five language drafts, and countless tweaks when it left my hands to go to the Director and Deputy Director of NCDC for a final round of editing.

While working at NCDC, I spent a great deal of time misunderstanding the casual agreement with climate change held by the scientists there. It was surprising that the very scientists whose research increased our understanding of it could go through weeks without mentioning it.

I now understand that we have to be practical about climate change through gradual policy changes such as creating bigger budgets for disaster relief, and increasing climate understanding.

“The project which I am most proud to have accomplished, as I believe it held the most value to NCDC, was redesigning the brochure.”

The Wilderness Society: Intern Nick Biemiller

My job as a Back Country Overnight Operations Team (BOOT) Crew leader was to take groups of volunteers safely into the backcountry and accomplish different trail objectives through daily physical labor in the field. Working on a wilderness trail crew greatly enhanced my experience in backcountry skills and leadership techniques. By the end of the season, I gained the skills and knowledge required to lead a group and myself into remote wilderness areas, accomplish trail work, and return unharmed. I learned the proper techniques and procedures for digging privies, hanging food overnight, establishing base camp, assessing risks, and leaving no trace.

My internship gave me insight into the various forms of land management our federal agencies use. During my training, and throughout my work in the field, I met a variety of different Forest Service employees with a broad range of perspectives. I met conservationists, timber cruisers, silviculturists, preservationists, technicians and directors. Some people were in favor of wilderness management and traditional tool use, and some people thought non-mechanized management was inefficient. Working in Wilderness areas all summer opened my eyes to the issues of accessibility to natural places and other environmental issues. The more accessible an area is, the more erosion, pollution and resource harvesting there will be. However, accessibility also provides opportunity for recreational activities and for people to be exposed to wild places. The rugged and less accessible areas that are designated as wilderness create an aesthetically appealing environment with healthier ecosystems.

The connections I made with Forest Services employees, members of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and The Wilderness Society, could easily lead to post graduation career opportunities in the conservation and natural resource management fields. The exposure to real life land management opened my eyes to how federal agencies and non-profits work together to achieve certain goals. I am passionate about the land, and this internship has been a step in the right direction down the path of land management and resource use.

“I am passionate about the land, and this internship has been a step in the right direction down the path of land management and resource use.”

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2011 Sustainability Interships North Carolina Coastal Federation Newport, NC

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

Office of Admission PO Box 9000 Asheville, NC 28815-9000

Environmental Quality Institute Asheville, NC Black Mountain Community Garden Black Mountain, NC Dogwood Alliance Asheville, NC Audubon Seabird Restoration Project Bremen, ME The Wilderness Society Southeast Region/Franklin, NC Asheville City Sustainability Office Asheville, NC CooperRiis Healing Farm Community Mill Spring, NC

“To build students’ preparation for both work and citizenship, higher education needs to give new emphasis to fostering practical judgment and problem solving in the field.”

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Appalachain Highlands Science Center, Purchase Knob, NC National Climatic Data Center Asheville, NC

College Learning for the New Global Century Association of American Colleges and Universities

Western North Carolina Alliance Asheville, NC Discover Life in America Gatlinburg, TN Water Keeper Alliance—French Broad River Keeper Asheville, NC Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center South Island, SC Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater, MD Montreat Conference Center Montreat, NC The Nature Conservancy Long Island/Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Haley Walsh, Audubon Seabird Restoration Project intern