Hello! This is Emily Chen, Owen Hill, and Grace McCulloch and we are the Nature Groupie Interns for the summer of 2020. All three of us are excited to spend the summer working with and learning from partner agencies across New Hampshire. We will also be writing stories about our experiences throughout the summer. Check back for more stories and see our bios below! 

Emily Chen

My name is Emily Chen and I am a junior Environmental Sciences: Ecosystems student at the University of New Hampshire. I am ecstatic to intern with Nature Groupie this summer where I will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of land stewardship and conservation projects across New Hampshire. I am looking forward to the diverse experiences I will gain from working with both public and private partners including:

• Town of Durham Land Stewardship Committee
• UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas
• Southeast Land Trust
• NH Fish and Game
• Bear-Paw Regional Greenways

Growing up, I moved around a bit before settling in Jaffrey, New Hampshire where nature was at my fingertips. I cherish my hikes up Mount Monadnock, fishing and floating across ponds, runs on the local Rail Trail, and simply observing sights and sounds in my hammock. Looking back at my childhood, it is very clear to me that I always had an affinity for the natural world, whether I knew it at the time or not. This early fascination has evolved into my strong desire today to become better educated about environmental issues and to protect our natural resources.

I am very excited for the experiences I will gain from working with Nature Groupie this summer. I am looking forward to applying knowledge from my coursework into the field, but even more excited to see what I can learn. Given the variety of projects I will work on, I am confident that I will acquire new field skills, expand my network, and broaden my view of possible careers in the natural resources.

Grace McCulloch

My name is Grace McCulloch and I am a senior at the University of New Hampshire studying Wildlife and Conservation Biology. I am beyond thrilled to be working for Nature Groupie this summer and look forward to learning about conservation and stewardship from. organizations and agencies across New Hampshire.

I was born in South Dakota and grew up in central New Hampshire-- a wonderful place to explore both the coast and forest. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't playing outside, searching for critters, or browsing through wildlife encyclopedias. In my free time, I love to kayak, watercolor, and hike (I am working toward my 48 4,000 footers), and I also spend much of my time caring for the goats, chickens and yellow lab I have at home. My early love for nature grew into a passion for conservation and wildlife photography. Sunrises, swallows, woodpeckers, and sandpipers are a few of my favorite things to photograph.

I truly feel at home in the field of wildlife and conservation biology. You know something is right for you, when, even in the face of adversity, you are happy, engaged, and excited about learning.

In today's society there is an ever-increasing need for effective and creative conservation education. I hope to one day have a career working in a form of public outreach and environmental education. I am excited to begin work with Nature Groupie and connect topics learned in the classroom with real-world conservation action. I also look forward to gaining valuable and practical fieldwork skills.

Owen Hill

My name is Owen Hill, and I am a senior Environmental Conservation & Sustainability student at UNH. I am thrilled to be a part of the Nature Groupie team and to assist in the stewardship of New Hampshire’s natural resources. I am looking forward to learning from conservation partners such as UNH Woodlands Office, Town of Durham, Southeast Land Trust (SELT), NH Fish and Game, and many more!

I grew up in Danvers, MA, where I was able to explore my passion for the outdoors at a young age. As a child, I enjoyed frequent hikes across New England with my family and exploring tide pools across the north shore of Massachusetts. As I grew older, my passion for nature intensified in the face of contemporary conservation issues. Upon entering high school, I enrolled in a variety of environmental coursework and took on an active role in my school’s Green Initiative Club; this would soon serve as the foundation for my continued education at UNH and passion for stewardship.

My time in the Natural Resources department here at UNH has offered me an unparalleled experience in terms of immersive learning. Research facilities within the UNH woodlands have played a large role in the development of my particular interest in natural resources fieldwork and the protection of New Hampshire’s forest ecosystems.

While COVID-19 has certainly caused some road bumps in our summer plans, I am confident that I, along with my fellow interns, will be able to learn a great deal from our conservation partners and apply this knowledge to protect the natural environment. I plan on spending my free time this summer exploring New Hampshire’s 4,000 Footers, skateboarding, surfing, playing guitar, tie-dying, and training Brazilian jiu-jitsu (pending post-COVID19).