Working with U.S. FWS has been an extraordinary experience. The organization is radically different than any other organization I have worked for. They are an extremely supportive, connected, and progressive agency. It was common to meet people from all different demographics and beliefs who have happily worked for FWS for decades. The support network that was extended to DFPs was extensive. I had a network at my home station at Kealia Pond NWR, but I also had a regional support team, a career advisor team, the HAF network, and the DFP network. With meeting all these new and interesting people, I feel like I went around the word in the short 77 days of this internship. I have been meeting and connecting with people from Hawaii, Alaska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Georgia, and Washington D.C. to name a few. I learned how the different geographical regions are addressing issues and adapting to the current state of the world. I believe because of the difficult nature of this summer internship, I feel more connected and worldly.
The DFP team went above and beyond providing fellows with information and networking opportunities. I have always been a “say yes” kind of person. Participating in any opportunity offered to me, but honestly, with all these connections it was difficult to participate in all the opportunities that were presented. The extensive dedication of the people in this organization and their focus on conservation and community connections have led me to exclusively look for a career in FWS upon my graduation in August.
My work at Kealia Pond NWR allowed me to develop and strengthen many ideal skills. I was able to create a formal Environmental Education (EE) Strategic Plan that highlighted the goals of Kealia Pond and incorporated broader goals from FWS and the state of Hawaii. I researched and connected with other refuges to understand how their program operated so that I could establish a plan that would work for Kealia Pond NWR. I took lesson plans and used creative thinking to transform the documents into something usable, unique, and relative to Kealia Pond NWR. I created activities and resources for the public to become more easily connected to the refuge. Overall, I learned how to communicate and use verbal conversations paired with research to create meaningful and usable documents for the refuge.
The experiences I received from this fellowship not only made me feel more refined and worldly but it also helped me develop an ideal skill set that will assist me in my future career path within FWS.
Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP
Location: Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge