For my internship, I was placed at the Allegany County office, but I’ll also be working with the Garrett County office throughout the summer. Since I interned at the Allegany County office two years ago (and one of my mentors has known me since I was in third grade), I was able to jump right in on my very first day. The plan for the summer is for me to follow Jessica Mellon, the STEM Educator, and Sarah Llewellyn, the Master Gardener. Occasionally, I’ll also work with educators from the Garrett County office. Since I plan to become an Environmental Educator, shadowing Jessica and Sarah will give me valuable insight into what my future career might look like. Learning from them and assisting with their lessons will help me gain both experience and inspiration.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025: Teaching Robotics to a 3rd-grade class at South Penn Elementary.
On my first day, I went with Jessica Mellon to South Penn Elementary School to continue their Introduction to Robotics course. This is a six-day program that Jessica teaches to every third-grade class in the county. That day, we worked with two different classes and taught them about the difference between software and hardware, as well as how to use different sensors. During the first class, I sat in the back and observed. For the second class, I actually led the lesson while Jessica stepped back and observed me. In the afternoon, I went with Sarah to George’s Creek Elementary School to help with her Career Day presentation.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025: Reading a Local Agriculture Newspaper.
On Wednesday, I spent the day settling into the office, completing paperwork, and getting up to speed on the local issues.
Thursday, May 30, 2025: Master Gardener Plant Sell Preparation.
Thursday was another big day for me this week. I had the chance to surprise my former high school Agriculture and Environmental Science teacher when I visited her class with Sarah to teach a lesson about herbs. It was a special moment to return as an intern and educator, and the students seemed really interested in what we shared. Later that afternoon and into the evening, I helped Sarah prepare for the Master Gardener Plant Sale happening on Saturday. During the setup, I learned a lot about native plants as well as the names and uses of many other plant varieties. It was also an opportunity to meet the community members who are a part of the Master Gardener Program.
Friday, May 30, 2025: I went to the Frostburg Farmers Market with Sarah.
On Friday, I went with Sarah to the Frostburg Farmers Market. A local elementary school, Beall Elementary, brought its 1st- and 2nd-grade students to visit the market. During their field trip, the students rotated through different educational stations. Sarah and I ran a station on “Senses in the Garden,” while other stations were hosted by SNAP-Ed. I was in charge of the “smell” station, where I introduced the students to fresh herbs. They got to smell each herb and learn a little about how they’re used in cooking and gardening. The students were engaged and had a lot of fun interacting with the herbs.
Just in this first week of the internship, I’ve already learned so much about environmental and STEM education. I’ve enjoyed every second of it, and I am super excited for the upcoming events that Sarah and Jessica have in store for me.
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