Support
During her internship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), she assisted with the monitoring and inventory of assets on Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Her final report analyzes human impact on the Olmstead Loop, a section of the popular Cranberry Lake 50 trail. She also contributed to the Living Lab by updating the trail network in ArcGIS and digitizing the garden layout, ultimately creating a pamphlet to inform the public at kiosks along the Saddlemire and Kip trails. Her work enhanced skills in Survey123, ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, formal report writing, data collection, and professional communication.
Berit's interest in conservation was sparked by her time on the Adirondack semester, where she took a policy course titled Land Use Change. During this class, Peter D'Luhosch, an EPS1 of Natural Resources for the NYSDEC, came to speak about SEQR and permitting for development on easement lands. Berit connected with Peter a year later, and secured a job under his mentorship.
Her work this summer has reinforced her interest in a career working with GIS and recreation to protect the well-being of her broader community, including the natural systems that sustain it. As she finishes up her final year at St. Lawrence, Berit will be applying to jobs that will inform her future graduate school decisions.