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I spent seven weeks at French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust in Chester County, PA, working as a full-time Conservation Intern.
Over the course of this internship, I developed and revised site management plans for fee-owned properties through a comprehensive study of property history, natural resources, management practices, recreation potential, and stewardship/habitat needs. I took on a project to restore cross-county trail plans by updating current conditions and alignments, identifying challenges, and assessing alternatives. I aided in the drafting of baseline assessments for newly eased properties, which included identification of invasive plant species and important native plant communities, making stewardship recommendations, and compiling property assessment documents.
I also assisted in field projects through property maintenance, invasive species management, and conditions documentation. Through this experience, I furthered my skills in GIS software and species ID for native and non-native plants, while furthering my understanding of land assessments and conservation management actions.
I am eager to apply this appreciation for land protection to my future as I further my conservation career. I have become confident in my ability to identify native and invasive plants of the Northeast USA, and my ability to apply these skills to new areas. I have gained a greater understanding of how county parcels are managed, the work that goes into keeping these lands protected, and the many small yet meaningful projects associated with land conservation.