During past summers the Land Trust has had the opportunity to host numerous interns thanks to the funding from two programs. The first is the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) which provides funding to eligible land trusts across the state to advance land conservation, economic development, farmland protection, community conservation and recreation, and tourism. The second program is the St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corps (SLU PIC) which matches students at St. Lawrence University with local nonprofits allowing them to gain professional workplace skills while learning about the nonprofit sector of the North Country. See below for short biographies and testimonials from our past interns.
Applications for summer internships are available in March. For applications and more information check out St Lawrence Land Trust’s Facebook page (linked at the bottom of this webpage).
2022
Lily Kasperek
My name is Lily and I am working as an intern for the St. Lawrence Land Trust as a St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corps (SLU PIC) intern this summer! I am a rising junior from outside of Buffalo, NY. I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Statistics. Throughout my time at St. Lawrence thus far, I have not had much experience learning about environmental conservation, and am eager to see what that looks like at a local level!
My internship with the St. Lawrence Land Trust was immensely rewarding. I enjoyed the many real-world experiences I had, from meeting community members at the Farmer's Market each week, working with and meeting members of the board, and sitting in on a few meetings with a landowner to discuss an easement. I am grateful for this opportunity and will always carry with me everything I have learned and gained. I have also decided to change my major to Data Science as a result of this experience! I would certainly recommend an internship with the Land Trust to my peers.
2021
Alyssa Watson
As I approached graduating from St. Lawrence University in the class of 2021, I realized I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the North Country. With the last few years of my SLU experience being even more confined to campus than a usual class, I was ecstatic to join the St. Lawrence Land Trust intern program to broaden my understanding of the landscape and community I called home for four years. I'm extremely thankful to the Land Trust and community for giving me the opportunity to use my degree and give back to the St. Lawrence Watershed that ties us together.
2020
Adrianne Colley
I am an intern working remotely for the summer of 2020 through the SLUPIC program. I am a rising senior at St. Lawrence University majoring in Mathematics and Environmental Studies and minoring in African Studies. I’ve lived the majority of my life in Colchester, Vermont and enjoy hiking, gardening, and running in my free time. I am excited to be working remotely with the SLLT, furthering my understanding of land conservation and the valuable work done by land trusts.
"My internship this summer with the St. Lawrence Land Trust was an unusual experience since like the rest of the world, we were navigating through a newly virtual workplace and communicating mainly through Zoom. Nevertheless, this internship was a rewarding and educational experience that allowed me to gain further insight into working at an environmental conservation non-profit while building my skills in web design, communications, and project management."
-Adrianne Colley, 2020
2019
Nathaniel Stowe
My name is Nathaniel Stowe and I am an intern with the St. Lawrence Land Trust for the summer of 2019. I live in Ogdensburg, NY. I majored in African studies and History at St. Lawrence University. I just recently graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2019. I'm eager to learn more about the St. Lawrence Watershed, and learn how to preserve the land for future generations to enjoy!
Eric Fleury
Hello! I am Eric Fleury and I am an intern with the St. Lawrence Land Trust during the summer of 2019. I attend the State University of SUNY Potsdam and major in Environmental Studies and minor in Geographic Information Systems, and Biology. I live in Massena, NY and have been around the North Country since I was a child. I look forward to working with the Land Trust, and pushing forward to try to save the land of the North Country.
Bailey LaBarge
My name is Bailey LaBarge and I am one of the three interns for the St.Lawrence Land Trust for the summer of 2019. I will be heading into my senior year at SUNY Potsdam, where I major in Environmental Studies, and minor in Geographic Information Systems, and Community Health. I am from Massena, NY and have lived in the North Country my entire life. I am looking forward to working on conservation efforts to preserve the land in the North Country!
"When I went into this internship I expected it to be a lot of hands on work and in the field. I came to realize that conserving land is much more complicated than that. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that plays into it, including making sure the budget is up to date, having meetings to vote on ideas, accreditation, and working on the website."
-Bailey LaBarge, 2019
2018
Katie Adee, Dan Bellinger, Randy Monica Jr. and Tucker Catanzaro
"The work that I was able to accomplish during my internship with the St. Lawrence Land Trust was easily some of the most meaningful that I’ve done all year. I was able to not only put my Environmental Science & Policy education to work on issues and areas that mattered to my North Country neighbors, but also build on that education through valuable experiences with local experts and professionals in all of the different fields that tie in to our important work."
-Dan Bellinger, 2018
"Through the land trust’s conservation work I got to explore places within the North Country that I have never been, and learn about the unique history of the region. I was able to incorporate my current knowledge of environmental conservation into my work, while also adding to it. This summer has provided me with insight into what my intended career might look like after graduation, and I now feel much more prepared and excited to start the next chapter in my life."
-Katie Adee, 20182017
Jacky Ryan and Matt King
"The opportunity afforded to me by the St. Lawrence Land Trust this past summer was an exceptional experience in professional acclimation and administrative tasks toward furthering the SLLT’s environmental conservation goals as a non-profit organization. The research, speaking, and accountability required will further develop my foundation of skills needed in the competitive and rewarding careers in today’s marketplace."
-Matt King, 2017
