Name: Gwendolyn Rewoldt
Class Year: 2025
Major: Environmental Studies, Minor: Biology
Hometown: Loveland, CO
Internship Organization: Bosque Santiago through IES Program
Internship Title: International Intern
Location: Huecharaba, Santiago, Chile
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
The mission of Bosque Santiago is to make outdoor education accessible, informal, and free for others to learn about their ecological community by being in it responsibly. Breathtaking views of trees along the “cerros”, which is a word for hills that are too big to really be hills but too small to be mountains. During my internship, I have been hiking a lot, learning about the endemic trees of Chile in the unique Mediterranean climate here. Many of these plants, like the Quillay tree or Litre, belong to the Sclerophyll Forest. “Sclerophyll” comes from Greek and means “hard leaf”, so these plants are especially resistant to dry periods with deep roots that take up moisture while the small leaves have a waxy layer that keeps their stomata closed more often than a typical leaf, retaining more of that moisture. I have learned so much about the plants here, but also about the educational side of things. Working with the education center, I have been a part of cool workshops where we walk trails in the park, learning about the immense biodiversity of mushrooms, trees, and birds here. The other interns have some amazing projects, focusing on including scientific drawings to make education accessible to those without the jargon or how the park has changed over time in relation to climate change. My project is about moss, designing an activity like those I mentioned before where people use magnifying glasses to get a closer look at the mosses around the park, seeing the tiny forest beneath their feet and feeling their microscopic leaves, hopefully changing their perception of the small plant.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I have never been abroad for more than a week and was interested in learning more about environmental education. Additionally, IES offers a seminar on intercultural professional skills, and in the future, I might want to work abroad, though these skills are also applicable to any future jobs in the US. The IES program did a great job of matching me to a relevant internship.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part has been working in the woods and following along with the workshops. I love having so many opportunities to go hiking while working! During one workshop on mushrooms, I saw so many different kinds at the park alone, it was eye opening to the many shapes, sizes, and colors they can come in. My favorite was these little purple ones!
Career & Civic Engagement Center Environmental Studies Biology
