Buffalo Bayou Partnership is proud to work alongside some outstanding students from schools throughout the city and country. This summer, Buffalo Bayou Park hosted six high school and college interns who held a range of responsibilities and completed a number of projects that piqued their interests. We asked two of our college interns about their experience at Buffalo Bayou Partnership:
Garrett Warren (left), International Studies with a minor in Business, Texas A&M University (graduation December 2015)
What projects have you worked on during your time at BBP? “I have spent a lot of time with Visitor Services Supervisor Stephanie Kiouses and Volunteer Supervisor Crystal Ortiz. Through them, I have worked on organizing logistical pieces for Buffalo Bayou Park’s grand opening celebration and an event guide for The Water Works.”
Houston offers a wide variety of internship opportunities. What drew you to BBP? “My passions have always been in bicycling and being outdoors. I can do both of those things thanks to Buffalo Bayou Park. Having the opportunity to spend the summer with BBP has allowed me to experience multiple roles within a non-profit that I truly believe in. It has also helped me realize my passion to work for a greater cause, knowing it will give thousands of people the same enjoyment I have experienced.”
Mirko Noack (right), Environmental Studies with a focus in Agroscience, Michigan State University (graduation December 2015)
What roles or responsibilities have you been assigned? “I have been working on many projects to help with the opening of Buffalo Bayou Park, its visitor centers, and researching park volunteer programs. One project that I am particularly excited about is a collection of information about the park’s trees, wildflowers, and animals. I have been able to explore the park and put my environmental knowledge to good use by taking pictures and identifying the various wildlife.”
What do you like most about your time at BBP? “I love working in an organization that values natural resources and is actively revitalizing an area to make it more accessible to the Houston community. I also really enjoy the idea that I am contributing to the creation of such a wonderful park.”
Buffalo Bayou Park’s operations team gained three interns –Travis Davis (sophomore at Westbury High School), Dezmond Colbert (sophomore at San Jacinto Community College), and Paul Irvin (junior at Victory Prep) – from SER – Jobs for Progress through The Bank of America Summer Youth Internship Program. The 7-week program gives Houston youth the opportunity to advance their career path through local non-profits committed to the fine arts, youth organizations, park beautification, homeless services and local clinics. The interns worked alongside our zone supervisors and learned how they manage various aspects of Buffalo Bayou Park, including plant and tree maintenance.