The Watershed Institute is excited to welcome Katie Genovesi and Davis Bush as part of its education internship program for 2023. The program, which runs for almost 11 months from the end of January to mid-December, aims to inspire and support the next generation of environmental educators. During their internship, Katie and Davis will have the opportunity to experience every season at the Watershed and see the natural changes to the environment that come w
ith each season as well as the various seasonal programing offered at the Institute.
As part of the internship, Katie and Davis will teach with The Watershed Institute’s staff in preschool and homeschool programs and conduct in-school visits throughout the watershed. They recently helped lead the maple sugaring program. Interns also conduct programming with youth from historically under-resourced communities and will also work as group leaders in the summer camp, where they will engage in inquiry-based learning and help students develop a love for the outdoors.
A unique aspect of the program is that interns are encouraged to leave a legacy at the Watershed by completing a project that reflects their personal interests and passion. “It is important that the interns leave their fingerprints during the internship,” says Education Director Jeff Hoagland. “The goal is the create something lasting through the creative process.”
For instance, Katie has planned a program to welcome the LGBTQIA+ community into The Watershed Institute. The event will feature a morning of community and fun, including a trivia hike, exercises, and mindfulness practices to aid those doing personal or social justice work. The goal of this event is to bring LGBTQIA+ community members together to share joy while exploring the beautiful trails of the Watershed Reserve. Learn more and register for that event here.
Similarly, Davis plans to work on his project in the fall and is considering addressing goals related to justice, equity, and inclusion.
Katie has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was an Eastman Leadership Scholar, with experiences centered on climate change education, communication, and research. Katie is proud to be a respected role model, showing by example the importance of acceptance and the joy of human diversity.
Davis has a B.A. in Marine Science from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. During his time there, he was a member of the University Environmental Club, organized community events such as beach sweeps and campus cleanups and supported local farmers. He also worked as a project manager during an internship with Seaside Sustainability in Massachusetts.
Davis will be completing the full internship, staying with The Watershed Institute through December, while Katie will be leaving this summer. Both Katie and Davis said that the best part of the internship is getting to experience the outdoors. We are excited to have them working with us.
