Hello! My name is Helen Moore and I am a new Conservation Policy Intern at Mass Audubon. I am currently a senior at Marietta College majoring in English and minoring in Advertising and Public Relations. While I study in Ohio, I am a New Englander at heart, having been raised in Connecticut and spending summers in Maine. Throughout my life, I have spent large quantities of time on bodies of water; whether it’s a lake, river, or ocean, I have developed a familiarity and connection with the aquatic environment.
Up to now, I have experience with environmental cleanups in Connecticut, Ohio, and Maine. When I joined my high school rowing team, the coaching staff and rowers had a tradition: the annual river cleanup day, where we cleaned the river we rowed on for 3-4 hours. I then continued rowing for Marietta College, where we also dedicated hours to cleaning up the Muskingum River. During the summers I live on Little Sebago Lake, Maine, and became involved with The Little Sebago Lake Association. The organization primarily concentrates on the removal of the non-native, invasive plant called milfoil. Growing up on this lake, I did not know of the environmental health hazards lying under the surface until this experience exposed me to the importance of maintaining certain species entering and exiting bodies of water. I am reminded from Mass Audubon’s land and coastal preservation that it is important to manage invasive species so native species can flourish.
During this last year of school I plan to continue working toward my degree and hope to participate in more environmental cleanups, as well helping maintain conservation for land and waterways. I want to further educate myself in public relations to help organizations such as Mass Audubon increase public awareness and engagement. Over the course of this internship, I will be writing several blogs to document my experience learning about environmental advocacy and preservation. I hope you will join me on this journey.