Blog Post from the Greenspace Alliance’s Conservation Intern

Contributors: Allison Bubar

In January, I worked as a Conservation Planning Intern with the Green Umbrella Greenspace Alliance, mentored by Claire Carlson. As a junior at Oberlin College majoring in Environmental Studies, Computer Science, and Physics, this one-month project was a great way to connect my coursework to real-world conservation efforts. One highlight of my experience was seeing how policy, planning, and community engagement come together to make a real impact.

During my internship, I researched local conservation policies and compiled a rolodex of policy examples for future reference. I also contributed to the ThriveTogether Playbook by finding conservation policies that support carbon sequestration and climate goals. Additionally, I connected with local communities going through comprehensive planning processes, gaining hands-on experience with outreach and collaboration. Overall, this internship deepened my interest in conservation planning and showed me how research and strong community connections drive positive change.