Teaching and Learning in the Wetlands

An early childhood and special education double major, Reilly McFoy ’20 spent her summer as an environmental education intern at The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, N.J. 

McFoy first heard about the internship opening at The Wetlands Institute through her brother, a biology major at a Philadelphia-area school. He was accepted for the research internship at the institute and thought Reilly would enjoy the education internship offered. With a passion for education and kids, and also wildlife and the environment, McFoy agreed that the internship would be a great way to combine her two interests. 

“My boss said it’s rare when someone in the education field applies for internships at the institute,” said McFoy, who was selected from 100 applicants in the pool. “He thought my background would bring new energy to the institute.”

During her internship, McFoy gained hands-on experience in several areas of the company. From leading safaris, to “Creature Features,” kayaking tours, and even guided trips through the wetlands, McFoy used her education skills to entertain and inform the guests.

“Because of my classes in early childhood education, I was very good at handling large crowds and keeping the attention of very young children throughout my programs,” said McFoy. 

McFoy was also tasked with caring for the animals in the institute’s aquarium. For this, McFoy had to maintain the necessary water quality of a tank, feed the animals a healthy and well-balanced diet, and determine which animals could live in a tank together.

“I really loved the aquarium feedings. I fed so many amazing animals, like our clear-nosed skate who we named Pancake,” she explained. “I would often feed them by hand. They would swim up to me and kindly take the food from my fingers.”

Although she grew to love the animals a great deal, McFoy had an added bonus to her internship—connections with LVC alumni.

“One day, my coworker pulled me aside to tell me that someone had called asking for me,” she said. “An older couple gave me their name and number and said they were interested in meeting me because they were LVC alumni and learned that I go to LVC through a newsletter The Wetlands Institute had released.”

For the remainder of her time at the Institute, McFoy kept in touch with the couple, Jim ’63 and Sally ’65 Davis. The Davises even invited McFoy and one of her friends over for dinner, where they discussed LVC past and present. McFoy bonded quickly with Sally when McFoy started to discuss her plans to restart the sorority Clio, Kappa Lambda Nu. 

“At some point in the night, I asked them if they were involved in Greek Life when they went to LVC, and Sally told me she was a member of Clio,” she recalled. “What’s crazy is that my friends and I have been trying to restart Clio on campus. It was a wonderful surprise. I plan on keeping in touch with the Davises for years to come.”

As McFoy enters her final two semesters at LVC, she does so with renewed enthusiasm.

“I learned that I am super passionate about wildlife and would like to somehow continue in this direction,” she said. “This could mean being an early childhood environmental science teacher, or it could mean working at a state park. No matter what, I am excited about my future.”

 

-- Parker Gallagher, LVC Marketing & Communications Student Assistant