Biology, Organismal Ecology, and OHAAT
Caylee (left) runs the bracelet-making station during the Volunteer Appreciation Event.
From studying organisms in the wild to helping kids find stability at home, OHAAT’s intern is proof that curiosity and compassion go hand in hand. Meet Caylee!
Caylee is from Bucks County and has just started her sophmore year at Kutztown University, where she is pursuing a degree in Biology: Organismal Ecology with a minor degree in Music: Voice. During the school year, she is involved in theater, the Climbing Club, Ornithology (bird) Club, and Environmental Action Club. In her free time, she loves to scrapbook, make jewelry, and hike/spend time outdoors. In the future, Caylee would love a job where she could be creative and help foster a passion for animals and the environment. She really wants to experience working at a wildlife sanctuary or a nature preserve. Caylee values supporting her community as a facet of her life, so she is certain that involvement in service and nonprofits will continue to be a part of her future.
How did you learn about OHAAT?
I learned about OHAAT through the Youth Service Corp program at Foundations Community Partnership (located in Doylestown, PA) while reading about potential host agencies I could be stationed at as part of FCP’s summer program.
What were you looking for in an organization to intern at?
I really valued finding an organization that was doing meaningful work in the community that would also allow me to find what I was interested in. I wanted an internship experience that would provide me with multifaceted opportunities to grow skills in social media marketing, creativity, and problem solving. OHAAT Beds for Kids has provided me with that, and more.
What has your favorite part about interning at OHAAT been?
The staff members, volunteers, board members, and entire community have been my favorite part of interning at OHAAT’s Beds for Kids program. They are all just the most wonderful, kind, and dedicated people. I’ve learned so much from every single person I have interacted with in the OHAAT community. The staff are so welcoming, and they made me feel valued, appreciated, and respected as a part of the team. They really made my internship experience what it was, and I am so grateful to have had the chance to be a part of the organization and its mission. I will definitely be back to volunteer when I come home on breaks.
How has working alongside other interns shaped your experience?
As a team, we were able to work more efficiently and achieve more by splitting up tasks and dividing up projects. We all have diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths, so the other interns made my experience more enriching because I got to learn from all of them. This was my first internship, so having other interns was really nice because there were other people learning the ropes and taking everything in at the same time as I was. It was great to be able to ask the other interns questions or ask for perspectives or opinions on project work. Working alongside the other interns this summer has empowered me to practice initiating conversations and leaning on others when a task is too big for one person.