POV: You’re a Back to the Bays Intern
It takes a lot to keep a large organization like CCE Marine Program moving full speed ahead. Back to the Bays aims to support many of our restoration initiatives by raising awareness and engaging the public in the important work we do. We all wear many hats to make this possible. Fortunately, we had the pleasure of welcoming 6 undergraduate Back to the Bays Interns for the summer 2023 season. In a symbiosis of sorts, they kept things running smoothly, allowing us to accomplish more than we could have without them, and simultaneously gained valuable knowledge and skills to support their environmental career goals.
Our interns participated in a wide range of CCE Marine projects, including aquaculture, habitat restoration, species monitoring, youth education and public outreach. They assisted in activities such as horseshoe crab monitoring, seahorse seining, marine camp education, school programs, Tiana Bayside Facility open hours, scallop research by boat, maintenance in our shellfish hatchery, and coastal plant stewardship sessions. And you may have seen them on Instagram, adding a youthful flare to our social media presence. This blog entry is an archive of some of the best “POV You’re a Back to the Bays Intern” moments. Read on to reflect back with us on a fantastic summer.
Meet the 2023 Back to the Bays Interns
What’s it like to be a Back to the Bays Intern?
Testimonials
Here’s what some of our interns have to say as they reflect back on their experience.
“As an ecosystem science and policy major, my college education often focuses on overarching environmental processes, anthropogenic effects, law, and mostly terrestrial ecosystems. Through interning with the Back to the Bays program, I was able to learn more about marine environments and habitats in addition to understanding the marine ecosystem surrounding the place I grew up. I really enjoyed having more experience with lab and field work. I feel as though this program has filled a gap in my education, as I am more confident in my knowledge of and ability to handle marine species. Finally, through Back to the Bays’ many community outreach programs, I felt I was able to spread the word on promoting environmental and marine protection. Working with passionate kids in both the summer camps and ArtSea programs made me hopeful for a future of well-educated environmentalists and marine biologists.”
~ Jackie Glaser
“This internship gave me the opportunity to develop my teaching, social media, and field skills. Going to local schools and hosting school trips allowed me to educate a younger audience on important issues in our bays. Simplifying more technical and scientific terms to children was beneficial in educating myself on the topic as I had to fully understand it first. Participating in horseshoe crab tagging and working in the hatchery with oysters and mussels greatly expanded my field skills. Overall, this experience has further deepened my interest in having a career involving wetlands. Spending time in and around salt marshes and learning the importance of filter feeders, like oysters and mussels, has made me more interested in salt marshes over other types of wetlands. I will use the skills and knowledge I have gained in my continuing education and future career.”
~ Kaia Madigan
“As a Back to the Bays Intern, I learned some invaluable information about marine conservation! In my career, I want to use education as a tool to protect local marine habitats. This summer I learned it's so important to involve everyone in the community in that education, not only students! Also, I learned that protecting our marine systems requires not only really important research, but also communication and outreach. I am so glad this experience has taught me that looking at environmental problems with holistic solutions is so important!”
~ Lane Dominy
Coming soon
~ Lily Waldhauer
“I am so grateful to the Back to the Bays team for the experiences I was fortunate to be a part of this summer! From horseshoe crab tagging to scallop research experiences, I was able to strengthen numerous field work skills as well as a deeper understanding of what it means to work in the marine biology field. As a SUNY ESF undergraduate student, the environment is my life, but getting back out into the field and reinforcing my passions about marine life really helped me continue to fuel my motivation to pursue a career focused on water. This organization does phenomenal work and truly cares about not only marine life, but Long Island communities as a whole, and to be a part of that was something I am so thankful for!”
~ Joanna Ziegler
Coming soon
~ Fiona Farrell
As we say goodbye to the summer season and our summer interns, we wish them all success in their future adventures.
Stay sandy!
