02 Aug Fish and Feathers at PAIS: My Favorite Part
My favorite aspect of this internship is just the newness of it all. It’s been an experience with something new everyday. From meeting other interns in Colorado, a state I have never visited before, to working at a national park. Everyday at this internship was a combination of having something to look forward to and something unexpected to occur.
Before this internship, I didn’t know much about interpretation. I knew that I wanted to take part in bringing the community closer to nature. Being able to watch my coworkers host programs and create my own programs for the park, definitely made me aware of the impact of interpretation. Having this position be my first interp role, I got to learn new ways on how to work with my audiences and emphasize accessibility. I appreciate the trainings I received and the EFTA coordinators for checking in.
Along the way, I also got to meet a ton of new people inside and outside the park too. My coworkers in Interp and Education, those in Natural Resources, clothing store owners local to the area, Instructors from the Texas State Aquarium, various research teams, park guests, Texas Parks and Wildlife people, etc. Hearing stories of culture shock, those surprised by the idea of a national park here, and down-island travel keeps me curious at the Visitor Center.
Even though Corpus is only 3 hours from my previous home, I got to explore the area over the summer. Visiting the Texas State Aquarium and seeing the latest installations along with the recently established Center for Wildlife Rescue, was cool to see. I got to pet some cute, cownose rays and see turtles in rehab. Visited the Art Museum here as well, which had lots of sculptures. Got to walk around the South Texas Botanical Gardens Center and hold a chunky, bearded dragon. I’ve been trying different foods here as well, I found an entirely pink, Paris-inspired cafe and a pizza place with dairy-free cheese nearby. My housing is close to the local mall where I window shop on extremely hot days.
The park is very beautiful here and I love the openness of this coastal prairie. The sky is always gorgeous, and I continuously see new species. Coyotes, dragonflies, wild hogs, fishes, birds, lots of mosquitoes, red-eared sliders, etc. This specifically is my favorite of favorites, being able to see all these critters. At the Visitor Center, I met Mama Raccoon and her 3 babies. They like to hang around early in the morning and poop on the roof.
Something else I want to add is the fact that this internship has opened up the opportunity for me to work under the Natural Resources division this upcoming fall. I received my offer letter this past week and will be starting about a week after my Fish and Feathers journey ends. I’m very excited to explore the park in depth and gain access to places not open to the public.
Words can’t express my gratitude for Fish and Feathers, those at Environment for Americas, and everyone at Padre Island National Seashore. With my last post, I say goodbye and be safe!
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