Each year, Shirley Heinze Land Trust hosts a summer Student Experiences in Conservation program for college students interested in pursuing careers in conservation. The program has increased steadily in size and scope over time, this year to a record of fifteen interns. As part of their summer experience, a few of this year’s interns were invited to contribute to our 45 Stories project. This is the first of those stories, prepared by 2026 intern Aria Davis, in which she interviewed program alumnus Lily Shield about her internship experience last year, and then offered some reflections of her own. Thank you, Aria!
Lily’s Story
Lily Shield, a 2025 alum of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust Student Experiences in Conservation program, has always found herself drawn to nature. She is a recent alumnus of Indiana University in Bloomington with a degree in environmental sustainability. Her love of conservation, though, began much earlier in her life. Growing up in Portage, Lily fell in love with the local flora and fauna, especially near Lake Michigan. She recalls fond memories of visiting the local beaches with her family, who saw her love of nature and supported her pursuit of a career in conservation. After applying for an internship with Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Lily put her studies into practice and contributed meaningfully to conservation as part of the Stewardship team.
The Natural Beauty of Northwestern Indiana
While working as a Flora Richardson Foundation Intern with Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Lily deepened her appreciation for nature and conservation. Alongside the vegetation management team, she worked to remove invasive species from our preserves, collect native seeds, and learn about the ecology of Northwest Indiana. While in the field, Lily not only felt more connected to the natural world but learned valuable lessons that have helped her in her journey.
Attending Lunch & Learns each Friday of her student experience allowed Lily to connect to local conservation organizations, explore career pathways aligned with her environmental studies, and network with ecologists, biologists, and other researchers in the region.
Walking the Conservation Trail
Lily mentioned, “A lot of people want to go to Yellowstone…to the Grand Canyon…But I think it’s important to explore your own area. Not only does it connect you to where you’re living, but you’re supporting your local natural areas.” She highlighted the immense beauty found in northwestern Indiana, and the importance of protecting it. At Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Lily learned much from the organization’s commitment to community impact and partnership. In her own words, working at Shirley Heinze “really solidified my decision in [conservation] being the career path that I wanted to stick with.”
A 2026 Intern’s Reflection
As I now walk the conservation trail as this year’s VU CAPS Fellow, I am inspired by Lily’s candid advice and experiences. Much like Lily, working at Shirley Heinze has opened a world of purposeful work I had no idea existed. Engaging my community in nature and learning more about conservation this summer is a gift I’ll never forget. Through this internship program, Lily, myself, and many other interns and alumni have learned lessons that we’ll carry with us for years to come.
Anyone interested in seeing the full video of my interview with Lily can do so by watching the video below: