Meet our Interns!

South Hero Land Trust is thrilled to partnering again with UVM Rubenstein School’s Perennial Internship Program to host two amazing interns this summer!

bio photo of Emily sitting on a bench along a street, smiling at the camera

Emily Berkowitz

Hi! My name is Emily and I am a rising senior at the University of Vermont studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Water Resources and Place-Based Education. I am also a trip leader for UVM’s women and gender non-conforming hiking club, Summit Sisters, which has fostered my passion for creating accessible and safe spaces for people of all ages to get outside!

I care deeply about education and enhancing the relationship between people and place through unique experiences and connections. I can’t wait to engage more with the South Hero community and form my own connections with the island. I spent a summer with the John Muir Land Trust back home in California learning a ton about land conservation and stewardship, and I look forward to continuing to learn more about stewarding land here in South Hero. In my free time, I love to hike, read, bake, and explore new places!

Maggie, facing the camea with a tropical forest in the background

Maggie O’Shea

Hello! My name is Maggie O’Shea and I am a rising senior in the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. I am studying Sustainability, Ecology, and Policy with a minor in Food Systems. I grew up in Washington State and have spent the last few summers working for the Mountaineers Club in Seattle, Washington, as a counselor for their hiking, swimming, climbing and rafting camps. I attended these camps when I was younger and they helped foster my ethic of reciprocity and care for our wonderful outdoor spaces! I am passionate about bridging the divide between humans and nature and cultivating accessible outdoor spaces.

I am thrilled to be working for the South Hero Land Trust as a Place-Based Educator and Land Steward Intern this summer! I am looking forward to engaging with and learning from the local community here. When I am not in class, I also spend my time coaching the UVM club swim team and writing for the Vermont Cynic. I also love to read, swim, hangout with my dog, do yoga, and get outside in any way that I can!

Jenna O'Donnell