The Impact of Graduate Student Leadership on Land Management Work at Blandford Nature Center in the Summer of 2016
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: As part of my Master’s program in Biology (Natural Resources emphasis) at Grand Valley State University, I supervised three undergraduate land stewardship students for my graduate internship at Blandford Nature Center, a non-profit organization located on 143 acres in West Michigan. CHALLENGE: Interns provide many benefits to natural resources managers, but they also require a lot of the land manager’s time and attention. The internship provided experience in multiple facets including; leading projects, working with volunteers, and taking on unplanned tasks. EXPERIENCE: Prior to the internship, I completed training in herbicide application, butterfly monitoring, and chainsaw use. During the internship, I could focus on working with and supervising the undergraduate students, allowing the land manager to target other stewardship and land management activities. Activities by the undergraduate interns included completing a natural areas quality index, photographic stand monitoring, invasive species treatments, butterfly monitoring, and GIS mapping. OUTCOME: This tiered model of supervision resulted in a three-fold increase in productivity of tasks. IMPACT: Supervising others taught me effective communication, project management, problem solving, and organization skills.
The Impact of Graduate Student Leadership on Land Management Work at Blandford Nature Center in the Summer of 2016
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: As part of my Master’s program in Biology (Natural Resources emphasis) at Grand Valley State University, I supervised three undergraduate land stewardship students for my graduate internship at Blandford Nature Center, a non-profit organization located on 143 acres in West Michigan. CHALLENGE: Interns provide many benefits to natural resources managers, but they also require a lot of the land manager’s time and attention. The internship provided experience in multiple facets including; leading projects, working with volunteers, and taking on unplanned tasks. EXPERIENCE: Prior to the internship, I completed training in herbicide application, butterfly monitoring, and chainsaw use. During the internship, I could focus on working with and supervising the undergraduate students, allowing the land manager to target other stewardship and land management activities. Activities by the undergraduate interns included completing a natural areas quality index, photographic stand monitoring, invasive species treatments, butterfly monitoring, and GIS mapping. OUTCOME: This tiered model of supervision resulted in a three-fold increase in productivity of tasks. IMPACT: Supervising others taught me effective communication, project management, problem solving, and organization skills.