Building a Foundation for Careers in the Great Outdoors

Two students spend their summer helping to maintain the plant life at Adkins Arboretum.

As part of the Center for Environment and Society (CES) summer internships, two students have spent the better part of their summer traipsing through the impressive 400 acres of flora native to the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain at the Adkins Arboretum. Thanks to the paid internships, Tyler Little ’26 and Zachary Osucha ’25, have been making a positive impact on the environment while gaining valuable hands-on experience.  

Little, an environmental science major minoring in economics, has been splitting his time this summer working on geographic information system (GIS) projects for Adkins Arboretum, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and Trash Free Maryland. His primary task at the arboretum has been to enhance the Living Collection Database, a valuable resource that provides information on plant species and their locations. 

"I've been using GIS software to make the database more user-friendly for both staff and visitors," Little explained. "It's been a great opportunity to apply what I've learned in the classroom to real-world projects." 

Osucha, who is also majoring in environmental science, gained valuable experience working in cultivated gardens and natural areas. His daily tasks included trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, and coordinating volunteer groups across the arboretum. 

“I really got a grasp on invasive plant identification and removal, how to manage a natural and cultivated landscape, how to maintain trails, and working with multiple volunteer groups in gardening, phenology, and bird monitoring,” said Osucha.  

The rising senior is planning to pursue a career in land management and jumped at the opportunity to work outside over the break from school.  

“My favorite part of the internship was watching all the areas we were working on change throughout the summer,” he said, “the garden beds becoming weed-free, native shrubs and trees appearing from beneath invasive vines, and new trees popping up as we planted them.” 

The arboretum was a perfect partner for Washington College students to expand their experience in the field. A model for land stewardship, Adkins plays an important role in protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay by preserving and restoring the region's native flora. 

Both Little and Osucha have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to work with experienced professionals at the arboretum and the chance to contribute to important environmental initiatives. Their internships are just one example of how Washington College is preparing students to become future leaders in environmental conservation.  

“Everything we do here at CES is aimed at preparing our undergraduates, the next generation of leaders, to tackle the most pressing environmental issues,” said Valerie Imbruce, the Lammot Du Pont Director of CES. “This includes summer internships. CES is proud to partner with organizations where our undergraduates gain invaluable real-world experience.” CES sponsors students in internships each summer working with several nationally known partners whose work aligns with CES’ mission of cultivating the next generation of problem solvers to tackle environmental problems and issues. Dedicated to fostering collaborations that offer diverse internship opportunities in multiple disciplines, CES’ paid internships are open to students of all class years, including graduating seniors.   

Find out more about all of CES’ opportunities for students on their webpage.  

 

- Dominique Ellis Falcon