I completed my practicum as a summer internship at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Lothian, Maryland. The Wetland Sanctuary serves multiple roles in education, research, and stewardship. A relatively small staff run the sanctuary with support from many dedicated volunteers. They have several ongoing projects including archaeological and cultural work, stream and habitat restoration, bird conservation, monitoring sea level rise, and hosting students for educational outreach. Each summer, they host a handful of interns to help work on these projects. An Advisor I had in high school reached out to me letting me know about this local opportunity. She remembered it aligned with my career interests and encouraged me to apply. If you are interested in pursuing an internship for their practicum, contacting mentors and advisors to let you know of opportunities that they come across is a great way to start. Similarly, if your department has a blog or a weekly email/newsletter, these will typically also include relevant internship listings. I kept up with the ENST blog for example, as they post internship opportunities year-round. The application for this internship involved developing a research project proposal. I had no prior experience with developing this type of proposal, so I knew I would need help. The best advice that I can give to future SGC Scholars is to ask for help. I asked for feedback on my proposal from peers and from Dr. Merck, which helped me effectively compile my thoughts and goals in a strong application.
In my position at Jug Bay, I designed and conducted an independent research project studying the accumulation of soil organic carbon in habitats of different restoration age. As a part of this study, I characterized the soil and plant coverage of each site to be used for future sanctuary work. I worked in three different types of habitats: meadows, forests, and pine barrens. At each site, I took samples of the topsoil and identified dominant ground and canopy vegetation. In the lab, I determined the texture, pH, color, bulk density, organic matter, and organic carbon content of each soil sample. I compiled my data into a research report for the sanctuary to have on record and presented my findings at the end of the summer to Jug Bay staff and stakeholders. I also had the opportunity to write an article about my project to be included in Jug Bay’s quarterly publication, Marsh Notes. Through my research, I found that the soil of broadleaf forest habitats serve as the most effective carbon sinks of the studied sites. Based on soil characteristics such as pH and texture, we can predict that one of the sites, a newly restored forest, will grow to become a strong carbon sink. Despite the brittleness of the soil in this site from extended agricultural use, there are growing colonies of earthworms and other soil organisms, supporting a speedy rejuvenation of the habitat. The data I collected is also being used to support the restoration projects in other ways. For example, many of the meadows I sampled from had extremely low pH values. In addition to their other ongoing efforts to support these meadows, the sanctuary plans to add lime to some of these sites so that the soil acidity isn’t too extreme for the plants’ health.
I loved my experience working at Jug Bay. I entered my internship excited about and focused on soil science, but I left with a greater appreciation for wildlife ecology and the importance of each of the little pieces that make up an ecosystem. One of the pine barren sites I worked at was full of little rodents running around me as I took my samples and surveyed the space. I eventually identified them as a species of woodland vole that flourish in sandy environments like this particular site. This type of habitat is one that is dwindling and the sanctuary staff and volunteers have taken extra care to maintain. Spending so much time in these habitats made me privy to all the little species that rely on them, which in turn gave me an appreciation for the efforts to maintain the biodiversity of the wetlands.
Jug Bay has a volunteer program called “Fieldwork Fridays” where each week a group of volunteers comes to the sanctuary and spends the morning helping with sanctuary projects or maintenance in some capacity. I had the opportunity to participate in a few Fieldwork Fridays, including one canoe trip where we collected trash that had moved into the marsh after several storm events. It was incredibly valuable for me to get to witness and learn about the efforts that go into making a sanctuary like Jug Bay run. Each employee and volunteer played their part and cared deeply about the wetlands they were working to conserve and protect. I realized I would really enjoy a career in this type of stewardship work. Based on this, I have chosen to continue pursuing work at sanctuaries or refuges when possible, and I have expanded my professional interests into the realm of wildlife ecology. I have an internship lined up with the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge for the summer of 2025. Despite this new interest, I intend to continue with my same academic plan learning about wetlands, watersheds, and soil science, as I feel it is valuable background for the wetland-based work I'm interested in as a career.
The intersection of science and society became apparent to me through the recreational component of the sanctuary. The sanctuary is only open 4 days a week in the summer and 3 days a week in the winter. The sanctuary has received pressure in the past to be open more often, however the staff have been adamantly against this. While recreation and education of the community are important and valuable components of the sanctuary, in order for the site to remain conserved, outside impact must be somewhat limited. The sanctuary has also been pushed to allow pets and even horses in the past, but has stayed firm that outside animals are not allowed on the primary site’s grounds. This is to limit disturbance and protect the ecosystem here. This mindset is one that is taught in educational outreach at Jug Bay as well. Kids attending summer camps or school visits are encouraged to look at and appreciate the beauty of the sanctuary, but are told not to take anything. Beth, the Education Coordinator at Jug Bay explained to one group of students that if one person takes a rock, then everyone takes a rock, and suddenly there are no rocks left. The sanctuary is funded by the county and therefore has to keep county policies and politics in mind. However, they utilize policy and recreational limitations as teaching opportunities to help encourage the next generation to treat their environments with care.