Meet Our Interns
The WellKind Forestry Internship provides college-level education and vocational training in science, forest and wildlife management and environmental communications to high school students. In this way, we prepare them to be the next generation of green professionals and environmental stewards.
After successfully completing the internship projects and assignments, interns are provided an opportunity to continue working with WellKind at a greater level of responsibility. Meet some of our interns below:
I grew up backpacking the forests of northern Minnesota and have visited nearly every U.S. National Park (Glacier and Yosemite are my favorites). I’ve always felt a strong responsibility to preserve nature, mainly because nature’s done much to preserve me—physically, emotionally and spiritually. Most of us can admit that we’re up against an existential threat in climate change. Working with WellKind made me feel I wasn’t just talking about it, but was taking action. In addition to writing blogs and making videos, we traveled throughout Marin doing ecosystem restoration. I found these projects impactful. As an added bonus, I met peers who share environmental justice values. I am currently a senior at Tamalpais High School and planning on majoring in Environmental Science in college.
Sophie’s Work:
Blog Post - How Forests Make You Healthier
Blog Post - Hands-On Hardening Your Home
Youtube Video - WellKind Forestry Interns: Throwing Shade -- How Trees Keep Us Cool
Growing up in California, I have witnessed firsthand dramatic changes in the frequency and intensity of our wildfire seasons during my lifetime. As climate change continues to escalate, infiltrating our communities’ public health and safety as well as destroying our surrounding environment, I feel called to involve myself in the struggle for environmental protection and restoration. This is my second time working with Wellkind, and I’m excited to contribute to and support the creation of Wellkind’s Policy Briefing Guide this summer. This fall, I will be attending the University of Chicago to study Environmental Science and Economics with an emphasis on policy. In my free time, you can find me tap dancing in the dance studio, at the beach with friends, or on one of the many hiking trails in Marin County.
Katherine’s Work:
“Hi, my name is Isabella Lombardo! In my free time, I love to paint, sew, dance, and go on hikes. I’m an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources, where I will major in Molecular Environmental Biology. As climate change continues to degrade ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities at alarming rates, I can’t help but feel the urgency to be active in environmental protection. Over the summer of 2021, as a WellKind intern, I enjoyed learning from the many scholars, advocates, and scientists that presented their findings and experiences with us. This summer, I’m excited to return to research and compile information on topics, including the detriments of forest thinning, for WellKind’s policy briefing guide.”
Isabella’s Work:
“I grew up in the hills, forests and glens of Marin County. As an avid cross-country runner, hiker and orienteerer, I've stood witness as climate change has dried, withered, and burned my home. Year after year, I've seen the fires worsen and our reservoirs shrink. I'm done watching. This year, I co-founded a local water conservation club, in partnership with the Marin Municipal Water District, to help combat the impacts of drought on my community; I made a map of public access paths and open space access routes for the Town of San Anselmo to help enable local stakeholders see the crisis for themselves, and I've worked for Wellkind Forestry twice, formerly as an unpaid intern and currently in a paid, research capacity, to provide lawmakers with the best, most relevant information regarding critical, proposed methods to mitigate climate change accelerated damage in the state of California.”
Jack’s Work:
Blog Post - A Thin Defensive Line: Forest Thinning
Blog Post - Turtle Island: Protecting Communities, Protecting the Environment
YouTube Video - Watering Trees in Need
Sofia Moss
Student-Intern, Spring 2022
“I was a Wellkind intern from Archie Williams high school. I love being in nature, rock climbing, backpacking, and gardening.
My favorite part of the Wellkind internship was going on the SPAWN restoration field trip, planting native plants and pulling weeds to improve the local salmon ecosystem. I joined Wellkind because I wanted to take a stand against climate change and educate myself on the environment. Wellkind has opened my eyes to how much we rely on the delicate balance of a functioning ecosystem.”
Sofia’s Work:
Blog Post - Forest Thinning Means Faster Fires
YouTube Video - Filling in for Missing Birds - Fertilizing Trees
YouTube Video - Why Mature Trees Matter
Samantha Dvorin
Student-Intern, Spring 2022
“I am a rising sophomore who interned with WellKind during the Spring 2022 season. I love to spend time outside reading or playing tennis.
I want to help nature so everyone can experience a more equal and biodiverse world. My favorite part of the internship was the SPAWN field trips where I spent time planting trees and shrubs by a creek.”
Samantha’s Work:
Blog Post - How Our Society Emits Environmental Racism
Blog Post - Don’t Just Plant, Protect
YouTube Video - Filling in for Missing Birds - Fertilizing Trees
“My commitment to sustainability motivates me to change, preserve, and heal our world. My Sustainable Agriculture class at Redwood High School helped me understand my responsibility to the planet: to lessen the impact of climate change through the practice and teaching of sustainable habits. I believe each individual has the ability and responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change. By educating myself about the vulnerable state of the world and its pressing environmental issues, I will be better equipped to fight for the environment. My favorite part about being a Wellkind Intern was working with others that shared the same environmental aspirations. When we worked with SPAWN at their restoration events, everyone was motivated and inspired to collaborate and assist SPAWN with their work. I thoroughly enjoyed working with other local organizations and making a meaningful difference in the community.“
Ashley’s Work:
Blog Post - Why Grow Soil?
Blog Post - SPAWN Restoration: Just How Important Are Salmon?
YouTube Video - Filling in for Missing Birds - Fertilizing Trees
Aidan Tribolet
Student-Intern, Summer 2021 · Assistant Instructor Intern, Fall 2022 & Spring 2022
“The natural environment around us is so rapidly changing. As someone who loves hiking, running, and biking through the local open space, I find that I must do everything I can to protect these precious lands. Working with Wellkind has tuned my mind to be cognisant of what the Anthropocene means for our planet. Through the Forestry Internship program, Wellkind has enabled me to understand the science and importance of local natural systems and allowed me to develop media to share those ideas. As a paid intern, I was then able to share some of my knowledge and contribute to an environmental policy briefing guide. I will continue my study of the environment both in school at Whitman College and through my hikes and botanical adventures.”
Aidan’s Work:
Blog Post - Talking Environmental Issues and Solutions with the Novato Rotary Club
Blog Post - Thicken Our Forests: Biodiversity is the Answer
YouTube Video - Fertilizing Native Trees
More Intern-Produced Work
WellKind Blog - LINK
WellKind YouTube Channel - LINK
Get In Touch
If you are interested in participating in our internship and learning more, please email Walker Laughlin, Development and Forestry Program Manager: internships@wellkind.org.
You can read more about the program here.