Save the River had the pleasure of working with two amazing interns this summer: Collin and Dana. From helping our education programs, to talking with the public about current advocacy campaigns, to modeling the new merch, these two interns became an essential part of the STR team.
We’re so inspired by their passion for environmental protection and we can’t wait to see all they do in their last year of undergrad.
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Dana
Interning at Save The River was an experience I will treasure for a lifetime. As an incoming Senior at Colgate University double majoring in Environmental Biology and Anthropology, I was able to apply my studies and passions into all of the projects I had the pleasure of working on at Save The River.
Save The River really does it all, which was one of my favorite parts about working with them. Spanning all realms including advocacy, education, water testing and more, I was able to experience working in a multitude of fields. This summer I also took a special interest in the fight against Customs and Border Protection and their plan to build in Blind Bay, regardless of the environmental implications. I was allowed to explore my own ideas to help the cause. This included the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analysis, which I personally enjoy working with. I was also able to help propose future applications of GIS to the STR team!
STR is a special group of people who are very passionate about the St. Lawrence River, and working with them really exemplifies how much people can accomplish when we unite. I look forward to seeing all of the things STR continues to do, and I will always cherish everything this internship brought to me!
Collin
Being an intern at Save The River this past summer has been an invaluable experience for me. From the people I got the chance to meet inside of the organization and the general public to the experiences I got like paddling for riverkeeper, there are many moments that will stay with me for many years to come. Being given the opportunity to see inside an organization that does so much with so few people and experience that Atmosphere is one I wish everyone is able to have.
To list some of the lessons that STR has taught me I would include that to make an organization like this run smoothly and achieve as much as STR has everyone involved must not only do their part but things that may be outside of that role. Another aspect of this internship that I am beyond grateful for is the entire process leading up to and the days of the CBP public hearing/open house at the end of June.
Prior to this internship I knew of the proposal but none of the specifics. Having the time in the store to actually read the draft EA and apply topics from environmental policy classes gave me a much clearer understanding as to the impacts of this facility. On top of being a topic so closely related to what I study, I also live on Blind Bay making this a very personal connection. Seeing what is proposed, fishing in that same area daily, and seeing the support of the community has been very impactful for me. Learning about the history of Save The River and reading so much about the success of so many programs has really inspired me to continue not only working as a steward for the environment but as a steward for the upper St. Lawrence river.
Since I have started living here in the summers just a few years ago the River has given me more than I could ever describe. I have always been told that some people know what they wanna do and others know where they want to be. Going into my senior year at SUNY ESF that choice is coming soon, STR has made that choice much easier for me by showing me how close of a community the upper St. Lawrence really is. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who was a part of this summer being what it has been. Dan, Bridget, Caryn, Emma, and Dana along with more people than I could ever name have truly made this internship the best that it could possibly be. I can confidently say in one way or another that I will always carry not only the memories but the messages of Save The River with me for the rest of my life.