This summer, Shirley Heinze Land Trust is excited to welcome our largest group of summer interns yet–12 passionate and curious college students who make up the 2025 Student Experiences in Conservation cohort. These internships are part of our broader Student Experiences in Conservation program, which creates hands-on learning opportunities for both high school and college students, helping to foster the next generation of conservation leaders.
Our interns come to us from a variety of academic backgrounds and through multiple pathways. Many applied directly to Shirley Heinze Land Trust thanks to opportunities supported by funders like the Flora Richardson Foundation. Others have joined us through valuable partnerships with local organizations and institutions, such as the Indiana University McKinney Climate Fellowship program.
This summer, Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s interns are engaging in a wide range of impactful conservation work across Northwest Indiana. Their projects span fieldwork, lab research, community engagement, and environmental education. Interns are assisting with ecological assessments, habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, invasive species management, vegetation and insect surveys, and wildlife monitoring. They are supporting native seed production and helping manage volunteer programs and public outreach events. In addition to hands-on field activities, interns are developing educational materials, contributing to social media and blog content, and participating in site visits and collaborative meetings with partners such as the National Park Service, local researchers, and community organizations. Collectively, their efforts are advancing Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s mission while deepening their own understanding of conservation, ecology, and environmental stewardship.
This is just a snapshot of the meaningful work these students will be doing all summer long. We look forward to sharing more detailed highlights in August after the summer experiences conclude. In the meantime, stay connected with us on social media, where we’ll be featuring Intern Spotlights and weekly recaps of our field experiences at Shirley Heinze Land Trust preserves and partner sites.
