One of the core pillars of the Audubon philosophy, and something I’ve come to deeply understand over the past few months during my internship, is that protecting birds means protecting entire ecosystems. And more, human communities are a vital part of that ecology. At Audubon, conservation paired with education becomes something much more enduring than just sustaining the land, nurturing connection, care, and resilience within the community.
Working and learning alongside the staff at the Green Mountain Audubon Center, where conservation and community work are so seamlessly intertwined, showed me the embodiment of those values. Every trail walk, preschool story time, river sweep, and community event wasn’t just about birds, it was about people, too. I saw spaces come alive where curiosity could flourish, where children and adults alike felt a sense of belonging in the natural world, and where care for the environment naturally grew into care for one another.
As an early education intern getting to spend so much time with preschoolers, it was so special watching the Audubon help young learners grow into thoughtful leaders, and neighbors into allies. In a time of ecological and social uncertainty, these are the roots of resilience. Cultivating a sense of place means so much more than connecting people to the land that they live on, it's also about connecting them to each other. Because when people care for a place deeply, they will care for and protect it with both their heart and their habit. Education is the bridge which makes that possible, inviting folks in, offering context, cultivating empathy, and inspiring action.
This semester, working so closely with the children in the preschool program has been one of the most joyful and transformative parts of my internship. Their sweetness, curiosity, and eagerness to engage with the world around them has left a deep impression on me. Watching them light up at the sight of a beetle, confidently name birds they’ve learned, or gently cradle a worm with wonder, has filled me with so much warmth. As the program comes to a close, I feel so proud knowing that these young learners now carry with them a comfort and familiarity with the natural world that I hope will stay with them for life. It’s a foundation not just for ecological awareness, but for their own holistic wellbeing. I truly hope and believe that this early connection will help prepare them to meet future academic and social challenges with compassion, resilience, and curiosity. Knowing that I played even the smallest role in their larger journey makes me so incredibly proud, and even more excited about the future that we will shape together.
