Christy Martin – Wildlife Management Internship

My name is Christy Martin, I am currently a senior at Garden Spot High School. I am interning with the PA Game Commission at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. This internship involves working with wildlife, which I have had an interest in since I was young. It also works with data collection and the more scientific side of working with animals which has become more of a passion of mine while in High school. I work alongside my mentor Lauren Ferreri, a college intern Jordan Stanford, and her mentor Daniel Lynch.

In a normal week, I will do virtual work on Mondays. This includes writing lesson plans on wildlife for WoW (Wildlife on Wi-Fi) filling in data for duck banding and anything else that needs to be done. On Tuesdays I get on a video call for Wildlife on Wi-Fi with the entire WoW team from around 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During this time we will discuss who is completing what and fill each other in on how our projects are doing.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I will drive to the Game Commission at 9:30 AM and stay till 11:30. During this time I will do whatever Lauren has planned for that day. That may be banding the ducks that are in the traps that we set up, creating new traps, buying material for projects, cleaning out kestrel boxes, etc. On Fridays, I will usually finish up or continue some more virtual work. This is a loose schedule that we have set up and is always subject to change based on things such as the weather, what there is to do that week and what Lauren needs to do.

This internship has been very enjoyable, and I have learned many more of my interests. I also have learned to be more flexible with my time and schedule because of the many changes that can happen. I like that I do not do that same thing every day and that I am able to learn new jobs and skills. This internship has been helpful in showing me different sides to the career that I am pursuing and has given me some good experience in the field of Zoology/ Wildlife Biology.