The Wetlands Institute’s Environmental Education Interns spent 12 weeks leading public education programs, while immersing themselves in the unique environment of the surrounding saltmarsh and barrier islands. They worked hard and through it all developed the skills they need to continue their careers in environmental education. Each year, interns are asked to develop and implement an education project of their choosing that is personally and/or institutionally beneficial. The deliverables from their projects leave a lasting impact on The Wetlands Institute and we hope you’ll stop by to see their education initiatives in action.
Intern Projects Overview
Sarah O’Sullivan (University of Rhode Island) designed a way to keep children and visitors occupied and engaged during program breaks through the creation of outdoor, portable activity boards centered around educational themes such as Osprey Hunting, I-Spy, Word Search, Marsh Filtration Cartoon, and a collaborative piece with Madison Sandquist to bring awareness to climate change.
Brandon Henry (Stockton University) enhanced the existing “A Night at the Aquarium” program by adding a short presentation and interactive bingo-style activity on UV induced fluorescence in saltmarsh biota, featuring local animals from behind-the-scenes in the Aquarium.
Reilly McFoy (Lebanon Valley College) redesigned six “Creature Feature” presentations in Nearpod, a web-based presentation software that allows the creator to add in real-time activities such as games, polls, drawings, multiple choice questions, and more.
Madison Sandquist (University of Miami) focused on the emergent issue of climate change by creating a climate change “Science Feature” showcasing direct effects on local saltmarsh species, an interactive board game for children highlighting environmentally friendly choices that impact climate change, and, finally, a 3-panel informative poster display and live coral exhibit for the Aquarium.