The Westport Local Press

View Original

SoundWaters Welcomes Two Staples Seniors for Spring Internship

(L-R): Staples Seniors Vivien Lynch and Sam Leopold. Contributed photo. 
SoundWaters Press Release: 

SoundWaters, the Stamford-based environmental education organization, has welcomed two High School seniors from Staples High School for its spring internship program.  Vivien Lynch and Sam Leopold are working for five weeks at the organization’s Coastal  Education Center at Cove Island Park in Stamford. The Staples pair is part of a larger group of  spring interns from several area high schools who, instead of attending classes for the final  weeks of their high school careers, work in internships to experience a real-world business  environment. 

At SoundWaters, the interns from Staples are working every day alongside and under the  guidance of SoundWaters professional educators, teaching the science of Long Island Sound to  pre-school, elementary and middle school students from schools across the region. They are  helping students in a classroom and lab setting, but also on the beach and in boats on Holly Pond  where their young students do their field work. Over the five week period of their internship,  they will work with over 1900 students. 

“SoundWaters is an amazing organization and I am lucky to have this internship. I get to work outside around the water with kids and help them learn about Long Island Sound and how to  protect the environment,” said Sam Leopold, who will be attending Washington University in St.  Louis in the fall. “I enjoy helping the students, and I’m also learning a lot about Long Island Sound myself and how a non-profit works,” Leopold added. 

“The SoundWaters High School Internship Program is a model for professional development and  environmental stewardship. Our interns develop their job and leadership skills on a daily basis as  they perform scientific experiments, aquarium maintenance and assist with our STEM programs,  reaching over 100 students each day. The SoundWaters intern program is a powerful learning experience,” said Christina Genz, SoundWaters Director of Education.