Week 8: July 23 - July 27

This week I worked more closely with the SCA crews which gave me the chance to work on some projects on the refuge and get to know them a little bit better. We painted the two story lookout tower which took 3 days! That was a lot of painting! We had to be extra careful because the tower extends over the impoundment. 

I also got creative with the Get Your Goose On! project. Here are some photos I took to advertise the FWS and how visitors can utilize a national wildlife refuge near them.

You know this is cool! 

Friday I went to the zoo with the high school crew and we had a blast! It was awesome going back after interning there about 4 years ago haha 

Galapagos turtle. She was super friendly

Going behind the scenes was awesome! The crew really enjoyed this day and so did I. I learned more about the zoo from when I interned there. I see the side of it where these animals are not just put on display for people's entertainment but a lot of these animals need human intervention (good of course) to increase there numbers. I also realized that day how hard the zoo is working to get these animals reintroduced into the wild once their numbers are stable. The partnership the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has with the Philadelphia Zoo is important in that they both share the goal of working towards species continue into existence. 

Week 7: July 15 - 20

The beginning of this week started off differently, I had an enviornmental education training with Erika the environmental ed specialist. We how to engage young children with concepts we understand and speak of abstractly. It was very useful information and I'm really glad I worked that day lol I never work on Sundays!
I also got a Project Learning Tree and Project Wet activity book for FREE O.O I will be using this in my future teaching/educating the little kiddies =)
This was the first week I actually worked more closely with the SCA high school crews. We went around the refuge and weedwacked along the benches and put wood chips down. It was very difficult because it was SO hot and I forgot my water bottle! A sistah had to get through it though :) It was fun because the kids were very funny and youthful throughout the whole day!

Tampering those chips! 

Yellow hats = SCA crews

Erica get back to work!

I also did another library program with Frankie. We were shocked when we got there. We were expecting no more than 10 kids. How about there were about 30??!! It was pretty difficult teaching them about nocturnal animals because they were so rowdy. You don't always get small groups that are easy to handle. Sometimes you get large rowdy groups that you have to bribe lol We waved the pelts in their faces then they quieted down haha No.. but it was a challenge.
I went to Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Long Island to visit another CDIP intern (My girl Jas!) and helped out with their summer camp. I had a lot of fun! The drive was a long way from Philly but when we got there it was worth it. I had the opportunity to see another refuge and see how they do things. They just opened up a new visitor center this past February and have launched their environmental education program with summer camp. I say they're doing a great job :)

Showing fellow campers animal skulls

A tooth! Whaaa!

Dissecting owl pellets! 

Love this <3 

I had a great experience working at another refuge! It was awesome and it was cool to see what makes each refuge special! 

Week 6: July 9-13

Monday was the first day of camp! it was great! I was nervous at first but when I met those kids it all went away. We had a great first day. I did an intro to alternative energy with them which is part of the theme this week. I had them play a game without telling them what I was going to talk to them about. They're all smart kids so they got it! Energy! This group had a lot of energy and they were so excited. I explained to them what nonrenewable and renewable meant and how we get our energy to power our homes, schools, and cities. I was amazed at how little I had to do lol They new the meaning and examples! I clarified a few things and encouraged quieter kids to jump in but other than that we had a great first day! I felt so accomplished that my lesson went well and my supervisors said I did a good job. I'm glad that I could engage the children but was really pleased that they understood the negative effects generating electricity has on the environment, animals, and ourselves. I explained to them how extracting nonrenewable sources of energy have a impact on wildlife and how augmented that becomes as we rely heavily on these sources for power. Then they said, "Ms. Shanita we need to use the sun more often". I thought that was the cutest thing :) Young conservationist :) I hope this generation maintains that attitude and does not get caught up in the fast advancement of technology. That's where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Student Conservation Assoc. comes into play!
On Tuesday, we focused on pollinators so we did a flower dissection and did bee cups. The bee cup experiment was interesting for a couple different factors. We had the kids put soapy water in blue, yellow, and white cups then asked them to predict whether the pollinator garden or the open field by would get more insects/variety. They all chose the pollinator garden including myself! lol But the results where total opposite. The open field got more insects with a greater variety, including a butterfly. The children impressed me when they said that the field attracts more insects because people do not go over there but people are always in the pollinator garden. Their ability to make connections and assumptions such as those show me that environmental camps are essential in this sense. The camps fill in the blanks schools can't. Moving on...
We had our first night hike!!! (Well since I've been working here lol) We were in search of nocturnal animals but mostly bugs that come out at night! The campers and their parents were encouraged to come and participate. We had a lot of fun! We didn't see a red fox but maybe next time :)
Wednesday was a fun day because we went fishing! I learned how to cast that day and then was able to help  the campers. We fished in the spot where we had our fishing day a few weeks ago so it was nice and shady! Again, all the children got involved and had fun!
The next day we cooked hot dogs and smores in homemade solar cookers! We talked about solar energy and how we can use the sun to cook, keep us warm, etc. Then we had invited the parents to have lunch with us to celebrate the end of camp. We only had about 2 parents come in! Whaaat! lol The food was yummy and the children were jumping off the walls from the smores by the time they began to leave haha
On Friday, Tajuan, Frankie, and I tagged along with the SCA high school crews to Lincoln University. Dr. Baskerville who is a professor in the bio department at Lincoln invited the crews for a tour and a discussion about a college career as well as careers in the sciences. The refuge manager came with us as well and spoke to the crews. It was a nice visit and interesting to see the crews reaction. They were pretty quiet but didn't show any sign that they didn't want to be there. Hopefully they were silently taking everything in and holding on to it!

Inspecting the attracted insects!/ Snack!

Checking out a big turtle!

Refuge manager showing the campers a yellow warbler!

Campers taking their learning in his own hands! 

Yall gonna learn today: Alternative energy game!

Week 5: July 3 - July 6

This week I was off Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday when I came in I talked to the SCA high school crews about the my internship as a college student with the SCA. I told them that the CDIP was the next step for them if they enjoy what they will be doing this summer. I expressed that I was happy to find the SCA and grateful to have gotten this opportunity. It has helped me make connections and be active in my field of study.
Along with the EE specialist and Frankie we prepared for the summer camp this upcoming week. I'll be teaching the kids about alternative energy and doing some fun activities with them. I'm very excited! It's gonna be fun :) I got some summer camp practice when I went to Folcroft public library teaching the kids about nocturnal animals. We had about 10 kids and they were all great! I also did a bat activity making puppets to take home. I didn't realize how much they'd actually like them! Something so simple and mediocre to an adult it a diamond to a child! They are all gonna come to John Heinz now lol Seriously, they said they wanted to come fish and see more animals like the red fox (which they might not see... but they sure can dream :) and its a good way to draw them into wanting to come visit us at the refuge.
For the remainder of the week I worked on my energy program for the summer camp. But OMG... me and Frankie found an old a polaroid camera and guess what!!! It works! Booya!

One step! lol 

At the front desk.

Week 4: June 25 - June 30

This week was a mixture of good times and sad times... Well Monday and Tuesday I opened up more pine trees that were caged and weed whacked around them. Some of them we left uncaged because they are old enough and have more leaves to protect themselves from the deer. Wednesday I did an online webinar training... It wasn't what I quite expected but it was still a good training. It was about teaching students about the careers in the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So they discussed different activities and programs that employees could do to inform visitors about the many careers the Service has. It was cute. They showed you how to do some activities such as conservation fortune teller, try on a career, and a pop up exhibit. 


Thursday was when stuff got real! It put a damper on my day when the biologist and I went out to clear more trees. We ran over an adult female red-eared slider. It was a horrific sight when we noticed it. I'm not even gonna describe it because it brought tears to my eyes. It is an invasive but still... It's a living thing and although to some people it's just a turtle, I still was hurt for it and felt guilty. I wish I had looked on the ground more closely before we drove onto the grass. Now you better believe my eyes are glued to the road when we drive on the refuge. Then later that day, my supervisor found and injured robin who looked like it was attacked by stray cats. It had bite marks. That was sad... we don't know if the robin survived because my supervisor dropped it off at a rehabilitation center. The Fish and Wildlife Service does not nurse animals back to health, its job is to protect and preserve habitat for wild animals. 


Friday we did another bird survey. I saw a double crested cormorant for the first time and a killdeer. I also worked at the front desk answering phones and prepared for the 40th anniversary and Family Fishing day that Saturday. For the anniversary party and fishing we prepared the fishing spot along Darby creek. We had fishing poles and bait ready. All they had to do was bring themselves haha a lot of the kids were fishing for the first time and didn't quite know how to fish and were afraid to touch real worms. So I hooked a lot of worms lol but it was fun because the kids were so happy when they caught a fish! I enjoyed helping out with the fishing day, it was soo much fun and I enjoyed talking to the visitors. I got some questions afterwards about everyday fishing on the refuge and fishing licences. I wasn't sure about how you get a licence so I just told them to google it along with the state they want the licence in and I stressed that you need a licence to fish on the refuge and it must be visible at all times while fishing. The visitors are allowed to eat the fish but we don't recommend it because the creek is polluted as it is connected to to the Delaware river. I just tell them not to eat it because I wouldn't! Later that day around 1pm we had the anniversary party so we had cake and a children's activities table that I was in charge of. I spoke to the children about the the wild animals at Heinz and they were able to pet the pelts and see their scat! One of the little girls who was so adorable continually asked me the same 3 questions but I didn't get annoyed (I wouldn't) because she was just so cute!!! I took a picture with her and her family while they held a red fox and the older sister held the skunk (She said it was her favorite..o.O lol) I'll post that picture as soon as its available!! :) Overall this week was good but Saturday was the best! We had a lot of visitors and I loved talking to them and helping out. 

Double crested cormorant

Killdeer - so cute!! 

That's all folks! Until next time..................

Weeks 1,2,3

OMG.... I had the best first week ever! I met the refuge staff and each day received a mini introduction to the areas I will be working in. Visitor Services: I'll be working with the education director on making programs and working with school groups. I shadowed the director on a Micro life adventure program with 8th graders. Biology: I spent time with the biologist traveling the refuge identifying invasive plants and generally touring the area looking at turtles basking in the sun and watching egrets and great blue herons soar in the sky. Maintenance: I had a tour of the maintenance shop area and drove around the refuge identifying areas for improvement and brainstorming projects we could work on.

It was a pretty chill week but I got to know the staff as well as Frankie (previous summer CDIP) and Tajuan who was also a CDIP a few summers back. They both are working on the refuge (Yo they are legit employees... they have the logos!!!) haha The staff at John Heinz is so great.
My first week I was able to have a more in depth tour of the refuge. I was getting to know the refuge and figure out where everything is. I gave a tour to Beth who I met at orientation. (My very first - alone - tour :) She was an SCA rep so it was pretty cool. It w her first time coming to the refuge so I was able to give her a tour and engage in conversation about the amenities offered to the public as well as some info on our most seen birds and turtles.

After two weeks at Heinz, I 've learned so much. I can point out the wadding birds like the Great Blue Herons and Egrets. They're beautiful birds. I feel very comfortable here with the staff and visitors. I'm able to engage with visitors when I'm on the trails checking out the eagle nest or weed wacking something!
My second week at Heinz was working with maintenance. My first project was using the weed wacker to clear a section along Darby creek and wood chip the area. This was a fun project because it was my first time using a weed wacker and those weeds were high too! I was scared at first thinking I was gonna lose a finger but I was good! The purpose of this project was to make more space for youth to come and fish on the refuge as well as make it more accessible.

During my third week at Heinz I was with the wildlife biologist. We did a bird survey on the refuge. This is important because this allows us to see how many birds are using the different habitats and how they are behaving on the refuge. Their behavior, whether they are feeding or just hanging out is important for us to know to make sure the habitat is sufficiently supporting these species. The bird survey is also important because we can see if the refuge has attracted new species. I enjoyed doing the survey because I had one on one time with the biologist to learn about her role and how important it is. It was a fun time because we get to be out enjoying wildlife and observing. Sometimes you see the unexpected :) we saw a beaver up close with leaves in his mouth carrying toward the impoundment bank.
We have a volunteer studying biology at Saint Joe's Univ who is doing research on the red bellied turtle. This is great because this turtle is listed as threatened yet we see tons of these turtles on the refuge! I think we may have the most here. I am going to be helping her out this summer yay! So We completed the turtle trap this past week hope to catch some turtles soon!

This past Friday I went to New Moon Nursery to experience the banding of purple martins. They have a purple martin colony because it is a native bird by nonnative birds like the sparrow threaten their existence. Nonnative species are normally more aggressive than native species and so they can easily use up our native species resources. The bird bander who manages purple martin colonies in many different areas bands these birds to keep track of their numbers and their hatching success. While we were there, he banded 80 birds! It's be great to get a purple martin colony started at Heinz. I'll have to talk to the manager about that haha It was my first time holding a bird (I think..lol) and it was great. They are beautiful birds and every day I am learning why it is so important to protect wildlife habitat and how essential wildlife management is in a time where nonnative plants and animals have out competed native species.

The completed turtle trap!

We worked hard on this! That platform is so the turtles can crawl up the rigid sides then get trapped in

Purple Martin colony at New Moon Plant Nursery. The guards hanging down are to protect the nests from predators and invasives! 

Baby purple martin! He's not that attractive but he's a cute one :)

The kids had fun! (Banding to the left)

Yup! I was workin' real hard that day.. we had a tough time gettin' my big ponytail through the helmet! 

After a ton of weed wacking and wood chipping the Darby Creek is ready to be fished! 

Orientation

For this internship all the interns in the Northeast region had to attend an orientation/training in Boston, Mass this past week. I had to take a plane from Philadelphia to get there and boy was I nervous! I was mostly afraid because I'd have to fly alone. I did fly to Disney when I was younger but that was only once and I was not alone and didn't have to think about logistics. Anyway, So I get to Philadelphia airport nervous as ever. While I was waiting at my gate, my supervisor Mariana shows up and a rush of relief and excitement came over me! We took the same flight :) When I met the first few interns (mostly girls haha) I just wanted to not be shy and introduce myself and I did. We instantly clicked and talked until it was time to drive to Regis College where we stayed.
I'm not gonna blab to much into details but maybe just a little! Our first meeting was an introduction about the Fish and Wildlife Service where our mentors and other employees spoke about their passions and the importance of the service in America. I was overwhelmingly happy because this was the first time I found a lot of people who shared the same passion as me which is protecting and helping the environment including all interconnecting systems. I felt like I belonged here and that I was important. That they wanted me to take part in fulfilling their mission. A few quotes that empowered me were, "Don't let the internship run you, run the internship" and "Identify the learning. It's okay to make mistakes". I know I will work as hard as I can this summer and have fun at the same time. I had a blast at orientation and I wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world! Thanks SCA/ FWS for the opportunity <3

Tomorrow is my actual first day of work. I'm soooo excited!!!

Learning about Snapping turtles. He was not tryin' to let go! 

So engaged! Jinkies!!! 

Our presentation on shellfishing at Monomoy NWR 

Diversity training. This was great! And she was too funny! 

http://www.fws.gov/