As my time here at the foundation wraps up, I have been doing a lot of reflection. As such, I have concluded that the amount you can learn in one summer internship is unrivaled. It can range from scientific technical skills to office interpersonal skills, and anywhere in between. Some things are self-explanatory, and some are learned through trial and error. This range is what makes internships so valuable.   I’ve compiled a list of the major lessons I have learned over the course of my time here. It spans from career related tidbits to the aforementioned errors. A sort of internship “ABC’s”, if you will. Whether you are a curious audience member, or a future intern, I hope you find value (or humor) in the knowledge I have gathered in the span of ten weeks.  A – Advocate for yourself. When you are out in the field, you are responsible for yourself. Don’t be afraid to let someone know you need a break, odds are you are not the only one. B – Believe in your capabilities. Imposter syndrome is just in your head. If you were hired to do a job, then someone saw you are qualified to handle

My name is Kathryn (Kate) Shiffler and I am the field work intern here at the foundation this summer! I am a rising sophomore at the University of Idaho, with a dual major in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Science. Although, from my work here so far, fisheries and aquatic science is starting to call my name. Crazy how one (or half of one) internship can change your mind so quickly! So, what does the Field Work Intern do? Monday – Believe it or not, office work to start the week off! Usually I will do research, run data analysis, or read scientific papers applicable to the Henry’s Fork. Lately I have been working on some projects for my mentor (Dr. Jack McLaren). Tuesday – More office work, usually finishing up whatever I didn’t get done the previous day. Sometimes I will get pulled away to help with other field tasks, which is great! It gives me the opportunity to have a variety of experiences. Wednesday – Island Park Reservoir data collection! This is oneof my favorite parts of the week. We take the boat out to five sample sites to collect water quality data. The device we use measures things