2026 Intern Reflections
I can’t believe it’s mid-September already. It seems like yesterday that our 2026 summer interns started. But when I flip back through my field notes, I’m amazed at how much this team accomplished in just a few months. Due to differing school schedules, our intern team had a staggered start. In mid-May, Isabel and Helena came in ready to roll. On day 2 they were out on the water in Duxbury Bay deploying sensors, on day 3 they were in rubber waders helping state biologists capture shad and herring, by the end of their first week they had collected water samples throughout the watershed, and it never really slowed down from there. By the time Luke came in the following week, they were old pros showing him the ropes. Luke wasted no time catching up as we jumped into a series of other new tasks. Then Avery was back! While only part-time this summer, this was Avery’s third summer with us. Avery sets such a high bar in everything that she does that it elevates the entire team, and the organization as a whole. Ryan started about a month later than everyone else, but he hit the ground running! He had been back on the east coast for less than 12 hours when he met us at sunrise for a low-tide mussel survey at 4th Cliff! With all five of them in place we continued to tackle a mountain of summer work including eelgrass restoration and monitoring, marine invasive species monitoring, water quality analysis, environmental DNA sampling, data reporting on horseshoe crabs and river herring, culvert assessments, and more. And that’s just the “ecology” work. They also supported our WaterSmart program, Striper Tournament, Great River Race planning, and a slew of other office support.
This is a team in every sense of the word. This is a passionate group of young scientists that just could not get enough. I frequently came into work to find that they were already out exploring the local woods and waters. They met up on weekends to seek out new plants and animals. They lifted each other up with their own unique expertise and interests. It was inspiring and it made my summer as exciting as any that I’ve ever had. I can’t thank them enough. ~ Alex Mansfield, Watershed Ecologist & South Shore Regional Coordinator for the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Luke Gerhart
The first thing that comes to mind when I reflect on my summer with NSRWA is, “Where did all the time go?” Being an intern here has been the most rewarding and incredible experience, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have spent my time working here.
At the start of this internship, I wanted to get hands-on experience and get my hands a little dirty by jumping headfirst into the many projects we had going on. Experiencing and collaborating with Alex and the wonderful interns has been incredibly inspiring. I got the experience that I was craving, like putting on waders whenever I had a chance to use them, using tech instruments and physical work to collect data on-site, and even picking up any random critter found along the way. I could never have anticipated this, like getting on boats early in the morning and conducting mussel surveys as the sun began to rise, and I am so grateful for those early mornings; they are experiences I will never forget.
It’s so difficult to name just one single favorite activity that we did, but I would say our eelgrass restoration project was the most memorable project. Having the space to work at Island Creek Oysters couldn’t have been any better. Even if my work mostly consisted of counting eelgrass reproductive shoots and scrubbing the basins and silos clean, that active and passive work of cleaning and watching all of the seeds pile up felt so rewarding. Most notably was the day we condensed our eelgrass silos from twenty bins to just three bins containing only seeds. Being able to experience this and work for the first time on this with the interns and Alex was amazing.
Our other projects and activities we did are all equally as important, like conducting blue mussel surveys at 4th Cliff (a close second for me), recording buoy temperatures, doing marine invasive surveys, Weir River data collection, eDNA sampling, streamflow measurements, salt marsh surveying, RiverWatch sampling, bacteria monitoring at CCSCR, MassBays SECWQALS sampling at Duxbury, and even pet-waste pamphlet delivery are all amazing activities that I am thankful to have been a part of. Participating in helping with the Great River Race and Striper Tournament were also incredible events to be a part of, and there are definitely some that I missed; we did so many awesome things.
Just putting it into words cannot summarize how meaningful and impactful all of the things I did over the summer have been to me. It has been so inspiring working with all of the super enthusiastic people at NSRWA. I want to give a special thank you to Alex, Helena, Isabel, Ryan, and Avery for shaping this internship into an unforgettable experience. I’ll never forget the car rides with the interns and how we listened to music and talked, and even the times Ryan just couldn’t deny getting a closer look at a flower. And thank you to the NSRWA staff and volunteers: Sam, Claudia, Joe, Brian, Lori, Becky, Beth, Kezia, and all of the volunteers. I’ve learned so much from working with all of you. I will remember this summer for a long time, and I look forward to the future ahead!
Isabel Miller
I am so grateful to have been a part of such a close knit and driven team of environmental heroes this summer.
Coming into this internship, I had no doubt it was going to be amazing, but being here exceeded my expectations entirely. As a student in wildlife conservation, I am constantly in distress about the future of our earth, and for so long I have felt helpless against such big problems that seemed beyond my reach. Being a part of the work NSRWA has really changed that view for the better. Seeing such dedicated individuals making big differences, and working alongside passionate interns like me is a reminder that there are so many people fighting for a healthier environment, not just locally, but on a widespread scale. Our partnerships with initiatives across Massachusetts in order to monitor invasive species, eelgrass ecosystem health and restoration, and so much more is just a small part of a huge network of environmental champions.
Beyond the seriousness of protecting our natural resources, I had the best time with my fellow interns, Helena, Luke, Ryan, and Avery, while we counted thousands of baby mussels, hundreds of eelgrass seeds, and spent way too long trying to master our knot tying skills. Spending so many hours in the field was even more of a dream come true alongside these people.
Being with NSRWA has been a formative experience towards my career goals which is something classes could never have taught me. I thank everyone on the staff for being so kind and helpful at every moment, especially Alex who has spent so much time answering my countless questions and being the best mentor I could ask for. I can’t wait to continue working with NSRWA in the future whether it be as a volunteer or something more!
Helena King
When I reminisce about this past summer, I feel profoundly grateful for every moment. My summer interning with NSRWA was entirely fulfilling and encouraged me to grow both as an individual, and as an environmental steward taking my first steps into the world. On so many fronts. I can say easily, without a doubt, the best summer of my life. This is my love letter to NSRWA.
At the very beginning, I felt nervous about being underqualified after not having much experience beyond the classroom. On day one, those thoughts were quieted. I immediately felt warmly welcomed and supported, and that remained consistent throughout my time at NSRWA. I hoped to have hands-on experience in the field, roll up my sleeves, and feel like I could make a difference of some kind. Not only did I have this, but I was enveloped in it. We worked on various projects and skills, where every day was a new adventure. With that, brought a new lesson. I learned about field work strategies and organization. The use of equipment and technologies in the field. How to take and analyze collections of data. How to work in a team, collaborate, even ask for a helping hand when I needed it. I am so fortunate to be able to say I also learned a lot about love. How to embrace it and how to give it out to the world, to others, where it is needed most.
I consider myself to be a passionate person, an intense lover. Most times, this feels overwhelming and I don’t know what to do with it all. I get so anxious and frustrated with the state of the world, its future, our future. For every creature that inhabits our earth. For every resource we have. Being able to spend so much time in the field, to see the hard work that goes into protecting our environment, and the partners NSRWA works alongside, has given me a shift in perspective. It has given me so much hope that I desperately needed. Beyond our field work, I got to see how an environmental non-profit organization operates and the ways it is run. For example, helping out at NSRWA’s summer fundraiser events, and attending Monday staff meetings. I can definitely see a future for myself working for a non-profit, which has been enlightening. I have been moved by NSRWA’s kindness and dedication.
NSRWA has been a dream organization to work for, but even more so, a home. Being able to contribute to NSRWA’s efforts, with people who care as deeply as I do, has been immensely comforting and refreshing. Quite possibly, words aren’t enough to express the way this place and these people have made me feel. Which may be words in themselves.
To my fellow interns, my riverhuggers. Izzy, Luke, Avery, and Ryan. Thank you for being you. You are all gifts to this world and gifts in my life. I want you to know how loved you are, and how much the natural world loves you back. You inspire me. Each of you hold a special place in my heart, and that is for always.
To Alex, being under your wing this summer was the best thing that has happened to me. You have been the most incredible mentor. My gratitude knows no bounds. Thank you for all your kindness, your nurturing character, your support in my growth, and for sharing your cool stories with us! Thank you for being exactly who you are.
I hope to stay close with NSRWA, and to help in any way I can, in the near future! I’ll carry this experience, this summer, with me forever.
Ryan Hughes
Words cannot say how grateful I am for my time interning at NSRWA. Not only did I learn a lot about my local community and the environments that it inhabits, but I also was able to meet and share experiences with people that I would have never met had I not been here. My fellow interns Helena, Isabel, Luke, and Avery are people I consider to be amazing people and people that I will be in contact with for what I hope is a very long time. My favorite memory isn’t necessarily one thing but it is just the time I was able to spend with such a wonderful group of people. Whether it was driving around in the organization Subaru from different culvert locations or maintaining and keeping track of the eelgrass project we had going on, I truly loved every second of it.
That being said, my favorite project/program that we did was easily the eelgrass monitoring, collecting, and restoration project that we had going on basically the entire second half of the internship. I was able to have so many different unique opportunities while doing this project. We got to get in the water in the bay multiple times to do things like pull reproductive shoots out of the ground, monitor and take videos of the bay floor looking for eelgrass spots, and deploy multiple strategies for planting the seeds on the bay floor. Planting was most definitely my favorite part of the eelgrass process because after almost two months of collection, storage, and maintenance of the seeds, we finally got to see all the work we had done put in action. I also now have a top 10 new favorite plant so there’s that too!
I would like to thank the entire staff at NSRWA for making me feel so welcome from day one. I especially want to thank Alex who was with us interns throughout the entire internship making sure we were able to understand and perform the tasks that we were assigned. I got to meet a lot of interesting and fun characters thanks to Alex! Despite starting my internship almost a month later than everyone else it never felt like I was a step behind. The staff, Alex, and the other interns made this the smoothest transition possible and I could not be more grateful. I was a little nervous going into this internship that I would be lacking some experience needed to do some of the things I would be asked to do, but I quickly realized that the people here are not asking me to perform rocket science and that it is okay to ask for help. I appreciated such an amazing workplace environment to walk into everyday. Sometimes we would even get an office dog for the day!
I want to give one last thank you to my fellow interns Helena, Isabel, Luke, and Avery, some of whom are still finishing up school and some are entering the workforce. You guys got this and I am always in touch if you want someone to talk to! I will deeply cherish the time we spent this summer and I can’t wait to get the 5 person canoe going at the next Great River Race!!!
Avery Sands
This year marks my third summer as an intern with the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of such meaningful conservation projects across the South Shore.
Throughout my time at NSRWA, I’ve been able to strengthen my background and knowledge as an environmental scientist within the conservation field. Each summer brought new experiences in the field and in the lab, expanding my understanding of local ecology and helping to build a close connection to conservation. During these past few months, I’ve especially enjoyed collaborating with Alex and the interns on eelgrass restoration, teaming up with partners at environmental organizations for water quality monitoring, and facilitating our CZM MIMIC invasive species monitoring project with volunteers.
More than anything, I’ve been able to witness the important role NSRWA plays in protecting our watershed. Through environmental monitoring, education, and volunteering, as well as fundraising, advocacy, and leadership, NSRWA promotes the health of our waters for the people and the planet. The focused and impactful efforts of the NSRWA team and the dedicated volunteers demonstrate an unwavering commitment to conservation that will ensure a hopeful future for our local environment.
I’d especially like to thank Alex and Samantha, the wonderful interns: Isabel, Helena, Luke, and Ryan, as well as Lori, Claudia, Becky, Joe, Beth, Kezia, Brian, and all of the NSRWA staff and volunteers. I look forward to helping out with NSRWA’s efforts in the future!
Reflections on Past Internships
2025 Intern Reflections
2024 Intern Reflections
2023 Intern Reflections by Patrick Scott
2023 Intern Reflections by Isaac Mann
Intern Reflection 2023 by Molly Frattasio
2022 Intern Reflections by Grace Berthiaume
Taylor Czybora 2022 Intern Reflections
2022 Intern Reflections By Bryce Lacombe
Intern Reflections By Lee
2021 Intern Reflections By Olivia Freud
Reflections on My Summer with NSRWA by Drew Martin
Reflections by Andrew Staley, 2018 Summer Intern
2017 Summer Interns Provide Invaluable Help to NSRWA
Meet Our Winter Intern Tess Walter
Summer Interns Provide Invaluable Resources to NSRWA
Nicole Gallup’s Internship Overview
Natalie Pitman Internship Overview
“My internship taught me that a huge part working in the environmental field is talking to people, making connections and educating the public… I couldn’t think of a better way of spending my summer this year. I am so thankful for getting these real-world experiences and gaining so much knowledge along the way.” ~ Kate McCarthy, NSRWA intern
