In these 2 months working with FLOW, I have learned so much about my goals and future plans. For years, I have known that I want to work in the environmental field, but wasn’t sure what I specifically want to do. I have done work in renewable energy, wildlife protection, zero waste, corporate sustainability, etc. I have enjoyed all of them but this summer more than anything in the past has taught me so many valuable lessons that I hope to incorporate into my future career. The element that I am most surprised by is how much I enjoy outdoor work/ the physical labor aspect. When learning about sustainability, I understood the actual labor that is necessary whether it be in ecosystem services, gardening, or the many other crucial management processes. Outside of brief and sporadic work days/ volunteering, I have never consistently participated in field work. At FLOW, at least twice a week I get to spend half of my day in one of our tree nurseries, a park, a pollinator garden, and many other beautiful locations around the watershed. Being able to work hands on reminds me why I care about this work so much and helps me work harder at the administrative and project management parts of my job. This balance is something that I hope to find in future positions and I hope to learn so much more about the way our planet functions.

A highlight of my week was the release of an NBC4 article about FLOW’s tree giveaway. This spread the word about native species and the danger behind invasive species, specifically the Bradford Pear Tree. Hundreds of people reached out interested in our tree giveaway this fall and even many people not in our watershed have emailed me asking about other opportunities in the area. Very excited to have more people learning about FLOW and the environment!