Each summer, Willistown Conservation Trust hosts students who are pursuing degrees related to the conservation work we do here. We asked Maddy and Kacy, co-ops in our Watershed Protection Program, each a series of 5 questions. Here are their responses… Stay tuned for posts about other students working at the Trust this summer.
Kacy Reitnauer – Drexel University (Watershed)
1. What’s your major?
Major: environmental science with a concentration in ecology and conservation Minor: environmental studies
2. What interests you the most about working with Willistown Conservation Trust?
I am super excited to work for WCT and to learn about the inner workings of a non-profit land trust. The main goals of the Trust really resonate with me. I think it will be interesting to see how these goals and various projects are incorporated into education and outreach programs.
3. What do you hope to learn during your co-op experience?
I am very interested to learn about the various tasks involved with watershed protection. I hope to gain a variety of skills related to freshwater ecology, water quality, and education and outreach.
4. If you could design your ideal job, what would it be?
My dream job would allow me to travel around the world to educate communities about environmental topics to instill environmental stewardship. I would love to work with nonprofits that are working to improve their communities and the environment.
5. When you’re not doing science stuff, what do you like to do?
I enjoy cooking, camping, kayaking, going to concerts, and reading.
6. How do you hope to make an impact in your chosen career path?
By choosing a career in environmental science, I hope to inspire others to appreciate, respect, and learn about the natural world. I believe educating young people about the environment is key to establishing community based conservation and a sustainable future.
Maddy Sabo – Drexel University (Watershed)
1. What’s your major?
Environmental science
2. What interests you the most about working with Willistown Conservation Trust?
The thing that interests me the most about working with Willistown Conservation Trust is using science and preservation to connect with a surrounding community. I think it is so important to connect people with nature, and teach people of all ages about the importance of protecting the Earth. Science is a bridge and should be able to reach everyone, not just scientists. I am particularly interested in water conservation, which is something I will be devoting a lot of time to working with WCT and I’m very excited!
3. What do you hope to learn during your co-op experience?
Getting technical, I hope to learn a lot about macroinvertebrates and how they are used to analyze the quality of water. However, I am also hoping to learn more about how non-profits dedicated to conserving land function and meet the people that WCT impacts.
4. If you could design your ideal job, what would it be?
In the past couple of years I’ve found a passion for entomology. My dream job (although possibly not attainable) would be traveling to under-researched areas in the tropics where there are undoubtedly hundreds of thousands of undiscovered insects, and studying and documenting them. There is so much left to discover and so much more to learn in the field of entomology!
5. When you’re not doing science stuff, what do you like to do?
When I’m not doing science stuff or anything school related I love to play games with my friends. Over the past four years we’ve come to have a pretty large collection of card and board games. I love the strategy and competition and creativity of them all. I also enjoy cooking and photography. And in any extra free time I walk dogs, where I get exercise, explore the different neighborhoods of Philadelphia, and get lots of puppy love
6. How do you hope to make an impact in your chosen career path?
I’ve chosen to study environmental science for one simple reason: I want to make a difference, even if it’s just a small one. I presume the how and where will grow and evolve with time as I do. That being said, I hope to somehow preserve the green space that remains and protect the incredible plants and animals that live there. There’s so much to learn and so much to do the opportunities are endless!
