During a weekly staff meeting at National Parks of New York Harbor, a colleague shared information about a previous intern’s successes. This prompted conversation about others who have interned with NPNH and their successes following their internships of which some have moved on to other agencies; some have continued their education; and some have returned to join the ranks as a National Park Service Ranger. We recognized how fortunate we have been at NPNH with the quality of students who have interned with us and the indelible impression they made on us, so we want to share with our colleagues across NPS what some of our former interns are doing and what they thought about being an intern with NPS. We hope you enjoy them.
Photos of former NPNH intern Aurelia Casey, then and now.
NPNH Communications Office
Name: Aurelia R. Casey Beginning/End date of internship: January 2016-November 2016 College attended/attending: CUNY College of Staten Island, EdD in Community-Based Leadership candidate, Class of ‘23 Agency/Program you worked with/through: Student Conservation Association Park(s) and/or Office and/or Program: National Parks of New York Harbor/Gateway National Recreation Area Supervisor: Larry Calhoun, former Youth Coordinator, National Parks of New York Harbor Primary responsibility: I was the Centennial Volunteer Ambassador, and worked in the Gateway National Recreation Area office at Fort Wadsworth and at Federal Hall National Memorial in Lower Manhattan. My responsibilities included helping organize youth internship and educational programs at NPNH and GATE; managing social media as needed; helping organize the Trails & Rails program between NYC and DC every Saturday, including recruitment and T-shirt orders. I also frequently attended tabled events at recruitment fairs and parades, such as PRIDE.
Q: What do you think were some of your most significant accomplishments during your internship? I was proud of pushing for a group of fourth graders from New Jersey to kick-off our Every Kid in a Park campaign, and seeing the joy on their faces as they rode the AMTRAK and toured African Burial Ground National Monument. I’m glad I was able to further amplify discussions of race and sexism within the workplace, and ensure youth interns didn’t experience those issues while working. Q: What new ideas did you bring to the table? And, in what ways were your ideas implemented? During the NPS Academy intern orientation week, I suggested discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion through the parks we visited with the interns. The idea was able to be implemented through the SCA leaders and NPS sites. Q: What were some of the most impactful lessons learned from your time as an intern? Learning how to work with different types of people was my most valuable lesson at NPNH. It’s important to be flexible and feel validated at your workplace, and the different people I worked and engaged with provided those lessons for me. Q: What advice would you offer someone who is thinking about applying for an internship? Do research on the location you wish to work at, and how they treat their employees and staff. Make sure that you will do the duties promised to you during the interview. Q: Overall, in what ways did your internship impact you professionally and personally? I learned Microsoft Excel (lol), I increased my public speaking skills, and learned better tactics on engaging with local schools for outreach purposes. Q: Share with us your journey since completing your internship. What are you doing now? What are your plans for the future? Since completing my internship, I earned my BA, MA, and am now pursuing my doctorate of education. I currently teach American Sign Language at Staten Island Academy’s Lower School, and have my own environmental education program in Bedstuy called Inner City Ranger Project. In the future, I plan on growing my program to partner with local schools during the school year to continue to engage urban youth in tackling local environmental issues. Q: When you think of your experience as an intern, what are the first 5 words that pop into your mind? Experience. Unique. Informative. Purposeful. Fun. Q: Describe the one moment from your internship that you’ll always remember/cherish, and why is it so important to you. At the Centennial celebration, I was able to meet Bill Nye. I mean, who doesn’t love that guy? He danced to some reggae and dancehall music that DJ QuestLove played, and it was great. Q: How important was your internship in getting you to where you are now in your career? This internship was critical in growing my career. I really felt like I grew-up and matured during my time there. I learned better leadership and organizational skills that I carry with me to this day. Q: What’s the one thing about NPNH you learned that everyone should know? NPNH has the best kept NYC secrets: its Manhattan sites. They are historical gems and I wish more people visited and explored NYC’s history through them.
Photos of former NPNH intern Sophie Niesciur, then and now.
NPNH Communications Office
Name: Sophie Niesciur Beginning/End date of internship: June 2016-September 2017 College attended/attending: State University of New York, Binghamton Agency/Program you worked with/through: Student Conservation Association and AmeriCorps Park(s) and/or Office and/or Program: I interned in the NPNH commissioner’s office at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan, which took me to many different national park sites in and around New York Harbor. Supervisor: Larry Calhoun, former NPNH Youth Coordinator and Suzanne McCarthy, current NPNH Executive Director. Primary responsibility: I was responsible for promoting the centennial celebration within the National Parks Service, and revamping the Trails and Rails program. I also helped raise awareness of the various parks and volunteer efforts and opportunities within them using traditional and social media.
Q:What do you think were some of your most significant accomplishments during your internship? My most significant accomplishments included successfully revitalizing the Trails and Rails program by recruiting new volunteers, and by leading and organizing training programs. Q:What were some of the most impactful lessons learned from your time as an intern? To take the time to advocate for yourself and seek out experiences that will be the most beneficial to you. By asking to volunteer as a guide at park sites, I was able to gain firsthand experience in the day-to-day life of a Ranger at Castle Clinton National Monument, African Burial Ground National Memorial, and Governors Island National Monument. Q:What advice would you offer someone who is thinking about applying for an internship? I would encourage them to apply, but to make sure they first read about the different branches within the National Park Service to ensure that they take advantage of the different opportunities available. Q:Overall, in what ways did your internship impact you professionally and personally? My internship with NPS impacted me professionally in that it was my first nine-to-five experience working in an office setting, and I was able to enhance my communication skills, as well as time management. Personally, I got to meet and collaborate with so many great people, many of whom I am lucky enough to maintain contact with today! Q:Share with us your journey since completing your internship. What are you doing now? What are your plans for the future? Since completing my internship with NPS, I was fortunate enough to continue working with NPS through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA), and began as a fulltime Park Ranger at General Grant National Memorial in February 2020. For the future, I plan to continue to build connections and learn during my position, and hopefully work toward developing partnerships between NPS and the community. Q: When you think of your experience as an intern, what are the first 5 words that pop into your mind to describe your experience? Impactful. Fun. Different. Engaging. Fulfilling. Q:Describe the one moment from your internship that you’ll always remember/cherish, and explain why it is so important to you. Oh there are so many! Of them all, the most memorable was being able to stand at the Closing Bell of the New York Stock Exchange with my colleagues. That day was so special because I did not know that morning what the rest of the day held for me, and I don’t think I will ever have that experience again! Q:How important was your internship in getting you to where you are now in your career? Without this internship, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was able to gain so many different experiences with the National Park Service because of the connections that I built with my colleagues during my internship. Their advice and guidance have largely contributed to where I am today. Q: What’s the one thing about NPNH you learned that everyone should know? There are so many great National Park sites in the New York City region and more people should visit them!
Photos of former NPNH intern Julia Kaback, then and now.
NPNH Communications Office
Name: Julia Kaback Beginning/End date of internship: February 2019 - January 2020 College attended/attending: Connecticut College, New London, CT Agency/Program you worked with/through: AmeriCorps through Conservation Legacy/Northwest Youth Corps Park(s) and/or Office and/or Program: National Parks of New York Harbor Office with the Trails & Rails volunteer program. Supervisor: Patti Reilly, director, NPNH Education and Youth Engagement with some assistance from Jim Miculka, national director, National Park Service Trails and Rails. Primary responsibility: Throughout the year, I assisted with the coordination of the Trails & Rails volunteer program, which meant I organized our schedule for volunteers, managed accredited interns from St. John’s University, and sought out ways to improve the onboard interpretation program through partnerships with other NPS sites and community groups.
Q: What do you think were some of your most significant accomplishments during your internship? I think some of my most significant accomplishments were contributing to early versions of the redesign of the interpretation program for our student interns and volunteers as well as attending an early service training in Austin, Texas where I was sworn in as a lifelong steward of service. Another accomplishment was being asked to attend a career day at a Middle School in the Bronx where I spoke to middle school aged schoolchildren about my path to service. That was a really fun day! When speaking of fun, I can’t not mention spending every Saturday morning assisting with the guiding on the Adirondack train with my Trails & Rails volunteers many of whom I’m still friends with to this day! Q: What new ideas did you bring to the table? And, in what ways were your ideas implemented? I suggested that the NPS and Trails & Rails work with both the New York Botanical Gardens and the Alexander Hamilton Association to recruit new volunteers and their diverse perspectives on historical and natural subject matters. We began these discussions toward the end of my term, and I believe the conversations were still going forward regarding working with these two organizations and getting them involved with the T&R program. I also suggested that Trails & Rails create a better flyer to recruit volunteers, and was able to help design the flyer we circulated at NPNH sites. Q: What were some of the most impactful lessons learned from your time as an intern? I learned a lot from both Patti and Jim in the course of the year, as well as my colleagues in the NPNH office – the most impactful being that to succeed I must ask questions if anything confuses me or maybe foreign to me. I also learned about the importance of self-advocacy and knowing when to speak up about for my rights especially when seeking legal accommodations in the workplace. Q: What advice would you offer someone who is thinking about applying for an internship? My advice is actually a piece of advice that was gifted to me by a fellow service-year alum, if you’re stumped by the application processes, don’t be afraid to reach out to the staff at the organizations in which you are applying to serve with. They can provide valuable resources that will talk you through their applications and help you understand the hiring process NPS uses as well as common interview questions. Q: Overall, in what ways did your internship impact you professionally and personally? For one thing, I have started to see changes in my self-confidence and display of passion for the causes that matter most to me. This change is both professional and personal in the way that I carry out everyday conversations with partners and colleagues. Professionally speaking, I am more confident in my writing skills and ability to connect with partners and stakeholders. Personally, I can joke that I certainly get more dates when I tell prospective dates that there is a way to ride Amtrak for free. In all seriousness, I am just a more confident person. Q: Share with us your journey since completing your internship. What are you doing now? What are your plans for the future? Since the conclusion of my term, I took a few weeks off to go skiing in Montana and shortly after, I began interviewing for jobs in parks and conservation. I landed at a small nonprofit called the Broadway Mall Association where I am a Development and Communications Associate. I also help coordinate a volunteer program that just wrapped up its first season! Outside of work, I am still actively involved with the National Center for Learning Disabilities and serve as a Community Ambassador with Student Conservation Association. Q: When you think of your experience as an intern, what are the first 5 words that pop into your mind to describe your experience? Trains. Partnerships. Friends. Interpretation. Service. Q: Describe the one moment from your internship that you’ll always remember/cherish, and explain why it is so important to you. Toward the middle of my service term, my family faced a health crisis. Throughout the crisis, my colleagues at the NPS stood by me and offered an ear and a shoulder to lean on. One day in particular, Dorcas Meyers, Secretary to the NPNH Executive Director, and I visited the Lower East Side during our lunch break. We got so lost trying to find our lunch spot and ended laughing hysterically in the street after walking into a bridal salon. Dorcas had done such a great job of finding a way to make me laugh and reminded me that “there is always sweetness on the other side.” To this day, I often think of this sentiment when I see darkness in the news or when my day may not be going the way I planned it. Q: How important was your internship in getting you to where you are now in your career? Very important! Having interned at the NPS, I have been afforded many opportunities both professionally and personally. I also have a love of service that has stayed with me through the last year – I believe the next chapters in my book of life revolve around conservation and environmentalism. I’m eager to see where my love of service takes me. Q: What’s the one thing about NPNH you learned that everyone should know? There are so many things to know, but the easiest is simple – falafel from Taim on Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan is best shared with colleagues! :-)
Photos of former NPNH intern Abigail Pope-Brooks, then and now.
NPNH Communications Office
Name: Abigail Pope-Brooks Beginning/End date of internship: May 2015-February 2016 College attended/attending: Barnard College, New York, NY Agency/Program you worked with/through: Student Conservation Association and AmeriCorps Park(s) and/or Office and/or Program: I interned in the NPNH office at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan, which took me to many different national park sites in and around New York Harbor, including Hamilton Grange, Statue of Liberty& Ellis Island, African Burial Ground, and Gateway National recreation Area, to name a few. Supervisor: Larry Calhoun, former NPNH Youth Coordinator and Mindi Rambo, former public affairs specialist with NPNH. Primary responsibility: My responsibilities were at the intersection of their work, as I helped raise awareness of the various parks and volunteer efforts and opportunities within them using traditional and social media.
Q: What do you think were some of your most significant accomplishments during your internship? My most significant accomplishments included starting an Instagram account for NPNH and building a following of 4,000 in under 9 months through almost-daily original content. I also spearheaded a Pearl Harbor event collaboration with the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Q: What were some of the most impactful lessons learned from your time as an intern? I think one of the most impactful lessons was the value of building relationships. Most of my work depended on the buy-in of several other colleagues, from administrators to park rangers. I quickly learned it was key to build rapport with others to learn as much as possible, and to accomplish goals and carry out projects. This way of working and navigating a workscape is now one of my greatest strengths, and successful collaboration is now what gives me great satisfaction at the end of a long day’s work. Q: What advice would you offer someone who is thinking about applying for an internship? Research the site that you will be primarily associated with to make sure its story is one you find compelling and be excited to share it with others. If you are going to do any type of work, that passion will be what drives and sustains your work. A positive attitude will be refreshing and your spark will be contagious. While I could find the importance of every one of the NPNH sites, some sites resonated more with me than others. Q: Overall, in what ways did your internship impact you professionally and personally? I gained a deeper appreciation for the National Park Service as a whole, especially for the dedicated frontline park rangers. I think I will always feel an affinity for the people of NPS. This internship experience was almost like a blank canvas where I was able to be creative, explore my strengths and interests, and do a wide variety of work. Like in everything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. Q: Share with us your journey since completing your internship. What are you doing now? What are your plans for the future? The Mission Continues was a volunteer organization that worked closely with the NPNH volunteer coordinator, and so I was introduced to them through him. They did a few significant service projects for us that simply blew us away. They were a young and innovative nonprofit, and having seen the quality of their work, I was immediately open to the idea of working for them when they invited me to join their ranks. I spent almost four years with them as a content specialist, where I wrote for their blog, website, annual report, annual appeals, and more. It was a fantastic experience, and it eventually led me to the American Museum of Natural History, where I accepted a writing-heavy position to steward major and principal gifts. My plans for the future are currently undefined, but will probably be based in writing and nonprofit work. Q: When you think of your experience as an intern, what are the first 5 words that pop into your mind to describe your experience? Fun. Connecting. Challenging. Bureaucracy. Resume. Q: Describe the one moment from your internship that you’ll always remember/cherish, and explain why it is so important to you. The week-long orientation and training for new interns gathered all of us new bright-eyed interns together in such a special way. We were going to be living and working in parks all around the country, and we were going to be each other’s network and support system. Most of my peers in school were not environment and education enthusiasts like me, so it was absolutely amazing when I found myself surrounded by diverse yet like-minded young folks. I found great comradery with them during the internship experience, friendships that extended long past the internship, and a lifelong network. Q: How important was your internship in getting you to where you are now in your career? This internship was certainly a good starting point for my career! I met my next employer through my work with NPS and would spend nearly four years developing my skills and expanding my professional experience there. Having NPS on my resume looks impressive, especially as a full year of internship experience/public service. Q: What’s the one thing about NPNH you learned that everyone should know? I think that visiting the African Burial Ground National Monument is very underrated, and I hope that more New Yorkers and tourists would visit the site as they would Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Most people don’t know how New York City played an important role in the slave trade, and what life was like for enslaved Africans in this city.
