I liked the interaction I got with the public. I gained a lot of really great communication skills and problem solving skills from the job overall. I also liked that I got hands on experience with other aspects of park management such as maintenance, daily chores, and more.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have had more opportunities to plan programs and hold programs in the park. Due to COVID, this was hard to do (as was expected) however, we were also short staffed so I could not focus on programs as much I wish I could have. I also wished there was better training at the beginning of the summer.
Advice
Take an internship far away from your hometown! It's a really scary experience living 1600 miles away from what you know, but it is such an amazing opportunity to learn and experience new things while growing into the person you need to be. I found a lot of independence and confidence this summer while I was away.
