Explore America Summer Internships Serve America
Explore America Summer Internships not only provide summer employment for Washington College students but also afford interns meaningful experiences that serve America.
Starr Center Explore America Summer Intern Shannon Rosche ‘25 worked this summer at the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington, DE as the community forestry intern. Her role at the center involves hands-on horticultural activities as well as educational outreach and civic engagement initiatives.
The Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire individuals and communities through the power of plants. Since 1977, they have cultivated a greener community by creating and maintaining the first Urban Farm in the city of Wilmington, planting and advising on the placement of urban trees, mobilizing volunteers, and hosting community events and educational programs for children and adults. The organization's efforts have significantly impacted the community by increasing access to fresh, locally grown produce, as well as promoting community involvement and environmental equity.
Shannon Rosche ‘25 is an Environmental Studies major with minors in Chesapeake Regional Studies and Museum, Field, and Community Education at Washington College. The knowledge of wetland ecosystems she gained from Washington classrooms amplified her public education efforts at the DCH. She created educational materials for Branches to Chances, a training program for unemployed, underemployed, and formerly incarcerated individuals to gain skills in horticulture, landscaping, and wetland management.
Shannon was tasked with working across multidisciplinary departments at the DCH to design an iPad presentation and create tree tags that engage residents in the Neighborhood Tree Steward Program. Shannon was involved in promoting the economic and ecological benefits of planting urban forests with the support of her supervisor, Rachel Sten. “As a non-profit, we work with government agencies, corporate entities, city planning commissions, and the public to improve relations, gain resources, and act on a mission to provide public forestry initiatives, community education, and green jobs that transform urban environments and prepare for climate change. Through the Tree Stewardship Program, we go in teams to neighborhoods to work with residents to select sites and choose the most beneficial tree species for that specific location. Shannon's tree presentation and tree tags will be invaluable tools for us moving forward,” says Rachel Sten.
“Not everyone wants a tree,” explains Shannon of her experience in talking with community members. “Some people think they are messy, and others feel they make the streets less safe because they block the light at night. Some residents think that a tree will price them out of their homes. However, the most rewarding part of my summer was when a community member, Sister Green, sang us all a song about how much she appreciated the trees and the workers at DCH who take care of them. Most importantly, people want to feel heard and enjoy learning about nature and getting involved in healthy activities in their neighborhoods. I am honored to know that my work will support these efforts.” In short, Shannon learned that to promote urban greening, one must learn the unique ways each local community will benefit and celebrate those changes, and sometimes, those answers and approaches go beyond the theories we learn in the classroom.
The Explore America Summer Internship Program pairs students with supervisors at leading cultural institutions, non-profits, and government agencies. Students not only receive a stipend but also get a chance to build their professional network and gain insight into the types of jobs and service opportunities available to them after they graduate. Our selected supervisors enjoy working with Washington College students and often become mentors and sometimes even friends.
