The James W. Dow internship has been a fantastic experience! Being from eastern Ohio, conservation looks and is approached in significantly different ways. I had never heard of a land trust, until being introduced to them by my friend and previous BHHT intern, Jessica Crandell. As a recent college graduate, working for BHHT has expanded my knowledge of conservation work and equipped me with skills that will benefit me in the future!
Throughout my time at BHHT, I’ve gained a variety of experiences! Each week would bring something new depending on what events were happening. About 50% of our time was spent working in the field with the stewardship team (Andrew, George, and JW). We hit the ground running for trail maintenance by undergoing equipment training and learning about trail building with Andrew. Highlights include timber cruising with JW, easement monitoring with George, and helping at volunteer days with Andrew. When timber cruising with JW, we learned about the different types of forestry plots and the methods used to assess each of them. While sleuthing out easements and potential properties with George, I learned about the land acquisition and the purchasing process the trust has to go through in order to expand their conservation reach. Other memorable moments include ice cream after long days, cracking jokes, and laughing at George’s dance moves.
When we weren’t frolicking in the field, we spent our time working with Merrin, Megan, and Beth in outreach. Outreach has been one of the most rewarding parts of this internship for me! My favorite part about outreach was connecting with community members and donors. From forest days with elementary schools, helping at farmer’s markets, and volunteer days on trails to talking with donors and hosting my own outreach event, being so involved in a small-town community has been an absolute joy!
I’ve learned so much during my time as a BHHT intern and am thankful for the wonderful staff who have made this experience so great! This internship has given me a different perspective on what conservation work can look like through the lens of a nonprofit and has shown me that “small” environmental organizations in a small town can make a big difference.