Anyone who has ever visited Florida knows it has a special charm to it. It has a certain feeling that makes you want to come back again and again. Living in Indiana, I did not get to experience this sentiment until I came to Sarasota for the summer.
I had the pleasure of completing a 12-week internship at the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County office. I met amazing people and experienced things that I never had the opportunity to experience back in my home state. Sure, the beaches were incredible! Usually this is the first thing I get asked about when I tell people I interned in Florida. However, there is so much more to the area than its beaches, which I was lucky enough to explore.
I built incredible relationships during my time in Sarasota. From the people in my office to the other county interns and on to the larger community, I met so many people who are eager to help others. Everyone’s helpfulness to make me feel comfortable in an area I was not familiar with was amazing to experience. This is something I am so grateful for, because part of my internship involved community outreach. Knowing Sarasota County better helped me be successful in my role as an environmental education and outreach intern.
Experiences
I also got to explore the many wonderful natural environments in and around Sarasota County, from the beaches to the springs, to the hiking trails. One of my favorite places I visited has to be Red Bug Slough Preserve. This preserve has several miles of hiking trails, and, along the couple miles I walked, I saw an abundance of the most amazing birds, some that I was seeing for the first time in my life. I spotted great blue herons, a group of wood storks, red-shouldered hawks, and a bowl of spoonbills (and, yes, a group of roseate spoonbills is called a “bowl”).
Another place of note that I got to visit is Rainbow Springs State Park. Located two and a half hours north of Sarasota, Rainbow Springs is the fourth-largest spring in Florida, featuring crystal-clear water which makes it a popular destination for tubing and kayaking. Tubing was a goal for me and my roommates when we visited, and it did not disappoint. We drifted down the spring looking down in the water at the seagrass, observing the birds flying over our heads, and at the otters that playfully passed by. We also got to visit another spring nearby, located in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, where manatees take shelter in the wintertime.
Learning about 4-H
As a 4-H intern, of course I learned about 4-H. Apparently, it is more than just livestock and going to the fair. Prior to this internship, I thought that is all it was. The only times I had interacted with 4-H before this summer were at the state fair seeing all of the 4-H’ers sitting next to or showing their livestock and my mom’s few sewing projects that she did when she was involved with 4-H in Indiana.
I quickly learned all that 4-H encompasses and how much of it interests me. During the course of my time in Sarasota working at the UF/IFAS Extension office, I had the opportunity to help out at the 4-H Exploring Your Environment summer camp. This was one of my favorite parts of my internship. I not only got to explore different environments and ecosystems, but I got to teach campers about it. My hope is to get them excited and curious about where they live.
Conclusion
I had countless of meaningful experiences during my twelve weeks in Sarasota County as an environmental education and outreach intern. The connections I made with others and the skills I developed made this internship invaluable. I am thankful for my time at Sarasota County and at the UF/IFAS Extension office. Using what I learned, I am excited to grow both professionally and personally as I navigate new experiences and opportunities.
To learn more about the Sarasota County internship opportunities, visit scgov.net/government/internships
To learn more about 4-H in Sarasota, visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/4-h-youth-development/4-h-youth-development
2
