News from the Friends of Reinstein

Natural Voices

One of the great ways Friends of Reinstein helps others “Share in Nature’s Harmony”  is by supporting the Naturalist Intern Program, a paid internship opportunity for college students and recent graduates interested in environmental education. The students learn skills that will help them share nature with others throughout their careers and in their personal lives. Below are the impressions of Blossom Vance and Eileen Lusenskas, interns serving at Reinstein Woods this past season.

Blossom Vance:

“What I love most about the internship here at Reinstein Woods is that I am always learning new things. Between shadowing indoor and outdoor programs, leading tours, going on staff walks, and weekly trail monitoring I have learned so much though exposure to this beautiful place. The internship will definitely be a valuable addition to my educational and professional experience.

“In October I led several school tours and had the opportunity to teach elementary and middle school students about forest ecosystems, pond ecosystems and invasive species. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach and share my passion and enthusiasm for the natural world with others. Seeing students connect and be inspired by nature has been one of the more rewarding aspects of the internship for me. I especially enjoyed working with the more diverse and underserved student groups. I admire the fact that the Friends of Reinstein Woods and DEC are working hard to give underserved students a chance to experience and learn more about the outdoors. The naturalist internship position has taught me so much, and I look forward to my continued involvement in the stellar educational programs offered by Reinstein Woods.” ​  – Blossom is a University at Buffalo graduate and native of Hamburg, New York

Eileen Lusenskas:

“Being an intern at Reinstein Woods has been such a great experience. I have learned so much! I have been able to shadow many on-site and off-site programs and have even led my own tours about a wide variety of environmental topics like pond scooping, invasive species, animal signs and tracks and worm composting, as well as learning the inner workings of an environmental education center. Just being able to walk in the woods to monitor the trails each week has helped me learn the many different species of trees, shrubs and animals that inhabit Reinstein Woods. Reinstein Woods is an amazing place where anyone can come and enjoy the outdoors and experience really beautiful views of nature. The people here, both staff and volunteers, have been so welcoming and helpful with anything I need, and it has made my time here even better than I thought possible.” –  Eileen is a University at Buffalo graduate and a native of Long Island, New York