Beyond the Gates: Wintermission Internships

Town of Middleburg – Winley T. ’23
I chose to intern with the Town of Middleburg. Throughout the week I learned so many fascinating facts about Middleburg, like how Salamander Resort was a huge economy and financial boost for Middleburg!
    
On Monday, I started my morning off by meeting all the town office staff, and soon after, I got to sit in on their agenda meeting, which was very similar to a student council meeting. Ali MacIntyre (The Director of Business Development and Community Partnerships) guided me and Sofia R. ’24 through this internship, and to properly introduce the town to us, she walked us through Middleburg and took us to Common Grounds. We also stopped in the PLAYroom to talk to the owner, Michelle McNaughton, about entrepreneurship, specifically in the small town of Middleburg. To end the day, I wrote down interview questions for different people that I would be meeting throughout this week. 
    
Tuesday morning started again with a town office meeting, but this time with the Middleburg Mayor, Bridge Littleton. Right after the meeting, I headed off with Shaun Jones, one of the seven police officers, to get more insight into the Middleburg Police Department. Toward the end of the day, we toured Salamander Resort!

Bright and early on Wednesday, Sofia and I headed over to Seven Loaves, a non-profit serving food to people in need, and volunteered for the morning. It was amazing to see a full staff of volunteers working with us, and let me say many hands make for light work! After volunteering, we went to the business office of Windy Hill to talk with Eloise Repeczky about the Windy Hill Foundation. It was very informative learning about Windy Hill from a non-profit business perspective.

Thursday, we had a meeting with the vice mayor of Middleburg, Peter Leonard-Morgan, to ask all of our burning questions, specifically regarding the town as a whole. As a long-time resident of Middleburg, I was quick to ask questions. Some of the questions I asked Mr. Leonard-Morgan were: Are there any plans/discussions to update or move the Exxon at the entrance of town? Does Safeway ever plan to return to being 24/7? Are there certain styles of housing required/requirements for Middleburg?
    
Friday, I began my morning at the National Sporting Library and Museum and got an exclusive tour of the rare book collection kept in the basement. It was interesting to experience a locked clear room (almost cage-like) that had impeccable air quality and air conditioning. Afterward, we went across the block to the community center to shadow a business conference with Ali related to marketing. To wrap the day and Wintermission up, I went to A Place to Be to get insight on Music Therapy!

Goose Creek Association – Sophie M. ’23
Interning with the Goose Creek Association (GCA) gave me valuable insight into the work and function of a non-profit environmental protection organization. While I was expecting more hands-on experience, perhaps learning to monitor streams or differentiate between macroinvertebrates, I have enjoyed working on articles and email reports.

On Monday, after arriving at the office, my fellow intern Isabella W. ’24 and I were introduced to Holly, our supervisor, and Lori, one of the chairs of the Goose Creek Association. Holly gave us a list of projects for the week, while Lori asked us to write up the GCA’s mid-year report that is emailed to all of their members. We also had the opportunity to sit in on a planning meeting. Isabella and I worked on different pieces that we then incorporated into the report. I wrote short summaries of two articles, one on the health of the Chesapeake Bay and one on the dwindling population of Mayflies. I also added a paragraph to the report about the environmental justice forum GCA is hosting later this February. 

Tuesday, we continued our work on the report. Once it was finished, we submitted it for review. I completed an article on Japanese stilt grass, an aggressive invasive species. After that, we headed over to the Hunter’s Head Tavern to help set up a luncheon where members would review the findings of the past year’s stream monitoring data. 

On Wednesday, I proofread my article on Japanese stilt grass. Lori sent back edits for the mid-year report, so I worked on resolving those. I helped Isabella proofread her article about different organisms in Goose Creek’s ecosystem. After that was finished, I started planning a second article on English ivy, an invasive species I am familiar with and see all over Foxcroft’s campus.

I spent most of Thursday entering prospective Goose Creek Association members and their contact information into an online database. After lunch, Isabella took over that assignment. I finished my English ivy article and added photographs. I started to compile a list of contact information for high school science teachers that Holly could reach out to, advertising the environmental justice forum.

Friday, the last day of my internship, came too soon. While I enjoy my classes, I found the work I did with the Goose Creek Association fulfilling. I made some final edits to the mid-year report, adding a paragraph that Isabella and I had collaborated on that detailed our internship with the GCA and a photograph of ourselves that Holly took earlier in the week. Working together, we made quick work finishing the school contact list. I submitted my final versions of the mid-year report and my articles.

Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center – AM C. ’25
For the 2023 Wintermission week, I received the amazing experience and opportunity to intern at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. For the week, I got to shadow staff and get a hands-on view of what an average day working there entails. This involved doing daily rounds to check in with all the resident patients/horses, checking in on the research horses, and tending to trailers in appointments. 

The highlight of this internship was sitting in on a surgery. Equine surgeries are unique compared to others because the horse needs to be fully sedated and flipped on its back to begin a procedure (this is very difficult because horses weigh thousands of pounds). Similar to human surgeries, equine surgery will consist of surgeons, OR nurses, anesthetists/anesthesiologists, and resident nurses to make sure the procedure will go as smoothly as possible. 

Overall, this internship provided me with a new perspective and a new passion that I want to pursue as a career. Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center has some of the best equipment, medicine, facilities, and staff, and it was truly an honor to intern there for the week. 

Woodberry Forest School Health and Wellness Program – Sara W. ’25
For my internship during Wintermission, I wanted to learn more about the new health and wellness programming that is being developed at Woodberry Forest School. To do this, I met with Dr. Christal Boesen, the Director of Health Services and School Psychologist, as well as Mrs. Gracie Wessinger, who works with Dr. Boesen and was hired to help plan and implement the new health and wellness program. I asked them a series of questions about their approach to incorporating health and wellness at WFS. This was a great way for me to start interviewing people and discussing health and wellness, as I hope to do more of this with my Global Studies concentration. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and learned so much from both of them!