trail stewardship

2021 Intern Reflections: Gab

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Gab is a junior studying Natural Resource Conservation with a focus on Wildlife Conservation at UMass Amherst. They first heard about Eagle Eye from a peer advisor at UMass, Gabby Gracia, who interned with Eagle Eye in 2019. Gab is part of the STEM Ambassadors Program at UMass, a mentorship program for historically underrepresented students in the STEM fields.

I discovered Eagle Eye fairly coincidentally, by looking through the personal statements of the peer advisors, one of whom had been an intern with Eagle Eye in 2019. Through browsing the Eagle Eye website, I learned about the mission to connect all youth with nature and conserve MountainStar Forest, a mission that deeply resonated with me and aligns with my career goals of working in wildlife conservation. When I learned of the summer internship program, I was eager to be a part of Eagle Eye’s mission, and I am immensely grateful to have been given that opportunity. 

Eagle Eye’s site is on an incredibly beautiful natural landscape, whose isolation encourages a depth of self-reflection that is seldom possible elsewhere. Being immersed in the outdoors everyday, sleeping in tents, stewarding the trails, and eating vegetables from the garden fosters a necessary and mutually beneficial connection with the land that I will take with me always. Through working on building projects with [Eagle Eye Site Manager] Scott, I learned how to use new tools and drive a tractor. On our group walks along the trails, the Eagle Eye interns and staff shared plant and mushroom ID knowledge that we were then able to pass on to the youth with whom we worked on the Learn About Forests programs.

I think the opportunity to intern at Eagle Eye would benefit anyone looking to gain confidence in the outdoors, great personal and professional connections, and experience in carpentry, youth work, and communal living. It is an experience I won’t forget.

2021 Intern Reflections: Lindsey

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Lindsey Robison is a junior at UMass Amherst studying Natural Resource Conservation and Education. She first got connected to Eagle Eye through an Environmental Leadership class at UMass, where she helped develop and lead a lesson on sustainability for our Eagle Club after-school program in fall 2020.

My time at Eagle Eye has been beneficial to me on a professional level, but has also allowed me to achieve the personal growth I have been striving for. I came to Eagle Eye initially because I was interested in environmental education, but upon learning about the internship, I was intrigued by all of the components. I’ve always been interested in carpentry, and getting that experience has confirmed that it is something I want to pursue. I also came in wanting to expand my knowledge of the outdoors and camping, which I definitely achieved. As a Natural Resource Conservation and Education Major, I was able to gain invaluable experience working with kids and expand my knowledge of the outdoors.  

On a personal level, the Eagle Eye site is a truly idyllic place that allowed me to take a step back from day-to-day distractions and focus entirely on my mentality. I think the Eagle Eye Residential Internship is a great opportunity for college students to immerse themselves in nature and form a deeper connection with themselves and disconnect from the fast-paced world we live in. Not only did my experience here reinforce my love for nature, but I also gained skills in carpentry, trail stewardship, youth work, and vegan cooking, all of which I was interested in. I also formed meaningful relationships with the other interns and staff. I would recommend any college student interested in the outdoors to apply to this internship.