By: Ashleigh Clenord, Former NJSOC Education Intern
Over the past few months, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to intern at the New Jersey School of Conservation, a place where environmental education, community, and stewardship come together in meaningful ways. As a proud Ramapo College of New Jersey alum, this experience has been such an important step in my journey—allowing me to step into new roles, gain practical skills, and see what environmental education looks like in action.
Some of the most memorable experiences included teaching conservation photography, where I guided students to see nature through a creative lens and watched their excitement as their photos came to life. I also learned how to use iNaturalist to identify species and contribute to biodiversity research, cared for ambassador animals that help teach empathy and respect for wildlife, and joined teacher workshops that showed me how environmental knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Hiking through the campus and helping with garden clean-up gave me a deeper appreciation for stewardship, while supporting the archive project allowed me to preserve the long history of NJSOC and its impact across New Jersey. I also had the chance to try boating for the first time, participate in rock climbing, metalsmithing, fish ecology, archery and water ecology programs.This strengthened my communication skills through writing blog posts and interviewing staff members whose stories bring NJSOC to life.
A major highlight of this internship was contributing to a sustainability practices plan for NJSOC. This project involved researching models from peer institutions, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and drafting recommendations for programming, facilities, and management that would reduce the school’s ecological footprint while enhancing its role as a leader in conservation education. From ideas like campus composting and hydration stations to integrating renewable energy, green infrastructure, and student-led eco-challenges, the plan focused on building both immediate actions and long-term strategies. Working on this gave me hands-on experience in connecting policy with practice and helped me see how sustainability can be embedded into an institution’s daily life while inspiring the next generation.
What stood out most, however, were the connections I built—with educators, staff, peers, and students all dedicated to making a difference. These interactions reminded me that sustainability is not only about protecting land, water, and wildlife, but also about creating experiences that spark curiosity, responsibility, and action for a better future.
As I wrap up my time here, I am deeply grateful for the lessons, memories, and friendships I’ve gained. This internship has given me new tools and perspectives that I will carry forward into my future work in sustainability, urban planning, and environmental policy.
