Reflections from Our Operations and Admin Summer Intern - Part II
Meet Hannah Grace, one of our Operations and Admin Interns this past summer! This was our second summer having a summer internship that works with our administration team - they help us with everything from getting the weekly newsletter ready to grant research to helping with events. We are so grateful for all the work they have done. Read below for Hannah Grace’s reflection on her time with us. We hope she has an amazing freshman year at William and Lee University!
The mission at Reflection Riding was meaningful to me before working here. It is a unique place where people can connect to the outdoors and simply enjoy nature. That in itself is phenomenal, but after seeing all that goes into making Reflection Riding what it is and understanding more deeply why it is so important, it means so much more.
Being at Reflection Riding as an Operations and Administration intern this summer was such an incredible experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn more about the ins-and-outs of nonprofit work, especially at a place as special as Reflection Riding. It was inspiring to see how a dedicated team of individuals work together to not only maintain this beautiful, full-of-life place but also to make it the best it can be. Questions about how to improve ourselves, our systems, and our facilities were answered with thoughtful research and communication.
Throughout this summer, I have gotten the opportunity to see and be a part of various projects, learning about fundraising outreach, sustainability plans, nonprofit research, and more. Through these various experiences, I’ve gained skills that I know I will carry with me in the future.
One of my favorite things this summer was getting to help write a grant. This was super exciting because I hadn’t written a grant before, and it was cool to see how this process works. I also had the chance to interview some members and donors of Reflection Riding to feature them in the weekly newsletter. Hearing stories from members was one of the best parts about working here this summer because it made me so happy to hear how Reflection Riding has positively impacted the lives of so many others - long-time members, volunteers, those that run miles of trails here, those that enjoy bringing their children here, and more. I also learned about the importance of maintaining connection with members through tasks such as updating online databases with current information, mailing membership cards, and reaching out to members. I enjoyed getting experience in writing and editing by helping with the weekly newsletter. More generally, getting to be a part of staff meetings and meetings with the Board of Directors taught me about the importance of collaboration.
Working at Reflection Riding has pushed me to view life with a more eco-friendly lens, and it has made me more interested in conservation as well as potentially working in a nonprofit setting in the future. I will take the skills and experience that I have gained and my deepened interests with me as I enter my freshman year at Washington and Lee this fall.
I have loved my time working here at Reflection Riding, and I’m so grateful for all the support I received from staff along the way. Much of what I was doing this summer was new to me, and I appreciated how quick those working with me were to help me when I needed it. Working with Mark, Heather, Mary, and Jessie, I felt truly supported in any endeavor I undertook and appreciated their guidance in helping me to learn new things.
Thank you to Reflection Riding for this amazing experience!