New Generation of Environmentalists | Alexandra Bova

Have you ever pictured spending your summer hiking around the woods in a hooded Tyvek suit? Our Stewardship Intern, Alexandra Bova, a rising senior at Marist College, did just that. She spent countless hours in the field at Broad Cove in Aquebogue and the Wolf and Harold A. Reese Preserves in Southold to document native species. The suit helped decrease her contact with ticks and increase her time in the tall grasses beyond the trails.

Spending 2 to 3 days a week in the field, Alexandra identified, photographed, and noted native and non-native plant and animal species at the Trust properties. The other days of the week were spent back at the computer compiling her data. This information will be used in the Trust’s management plans for the properties.

Returning to campus this Fall, she’ll take her field work experience to the classroom, and 3 credits for 135 hours of work. Studying Environmental Science and Policy, she hopes to enter the conservation field after graduation.

When asked what most surprised her about the Trust, it was the scope of the work. “I had learned about environmental easements in an environmental planning course, but didn’t know all the other aspects of land conservation and stewardship that was involved.”

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Do you know a high school or college student interested in a conservation based internship? Please have them send a resume and brief cover letter to our Director of People and Culture, Deborah Thomas.