I’m almost done with my first week of working as a George Perkins Marsh intern! This whole week has been really interesting, but at the same time I am getting an extreme sense of déjà vu. I worked here last summer as a crew member on the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Resource Management Crew, and I found that very interesting, because it allowed me to see and understand aspects of the park that I had never experienced before. I’m hoping this summer will be somewhat similar, in that I will be able to learn about new and different things. Last summer taught me all about trail work, and helped me to get familiar with the physical boundaries of the park itself. This year, I’m excited to be seeing more of the behind-the-scenes stuff, and experiencing new things.
I find myself really looking forward to the interpretive work, and interfacing with the public. The little time I’ve had to work with the rangers has been very fun and interesting. Last summer, I didn’t get to work with the public much; my experiences with them were pretty much limited to explaining how I was clearing out this ditch. But I think that this summer will be much different. Today, I was able to recommend trails and a route that I enjoyed walking on to some casual hikers, and I hope that I was able to improve their park experience. I think that’s why I’m going to enjoy this internship, because I can have a direct and immediate impact on how people enjoy the park, and help to enhance their visiting experience.