A little background behind the blog name: I’m sure not too many people know about the plant names listed on my blog title. Heck, even I didn’t until I got here! But those are names of some pretty common invasive plant species found here on LI. Mugwort, Purple Foxglove, Japanese Barberry and the one on the left in the picture is Black Swallow-wort. My primary job is to map and treat (by pulling or cutting) the many of invasive plant species we find at the different refuges. So yes, technically I am weeding (hence the name of weed warrior!) People probably think I’m crazy for driving 11 hours from Detroit to Long Island to weed but invasive plants are like the worst of the weeds! They can change the pH of soils and take up all of the area that native plants used to grow in and many of them aren’t very insect or animal friendly. So my job is quite important for the sustainability of the ecosystem! 
Sayville This pic is a little old, but like I said I’m playing catch up! We were at Sayville, another refuge on LI that’s a part of the complex, cleaning out some enclosures that were set up to grow the native plant Sandplain Gerardia. We ran into a little box turtle friend along the way. Sidenote: we have on the full suits because ticks love Long Island and they especially love me 
THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE! So this here collage is just a glimpse of the events and people of literally one of the best weeks of my life! The SCA Career Discovery Internship Program Orientation Week, yet another mouthful. I spent a week at Forrestel Horse Camp in Basom, NY with all of the interns and mentors of Region 5 of the Fish & Wildlife Service (Region 5 consists of 13 states from Virginia to Maine). While not kicking it at the camp we spent the rest of our time on Iriquois National Wildlife Refuge which was down the street from the camp. During this week we learned more about Student Conservation Association, US Fish & Wildlife Service, career paths, heard stories from our mentors about their challenges and triumphs in their career, got a look inside what visitor services and biological services consists of on a NWR (National Wildllife Refuge), and created bonds that will last a lifetime. Outside of time in the classroom I got to enjoy a canoeing trip, a trip to Niagara Falls, NY and bonfires and s’mores every night and tons of laughs and smiles! 
My Slice of Heaven Squassux Landing to be exact! It’s right by my house and I usually go and sit after my runs. I believe it’s a part of the Carmans River that runs through the refuge Neighborhood Zoo! So I live near a donkey, a mini horse, an alpaca farm & a peacock 
HONEY I’M HOME! The lovely home in Brookhaven I’ll be living in for 3 months with 2 other awesome interns! Hey there! So I decided to make a separate blog to document my amazing summer as a Student Conservation Association intern with the US Fish & Wildlife Service at the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex! Whoo, that’s a mouthful! But this will give you an inside look at what I do at work and in my free time! Things have been busy since I moved in three weeks, or so, ago so I’m playing catch up! ENJOY! 
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