Sam Calkins ’28

Sam Calkins, an environmental studies major, didn’t just learn about forestry – she lived it.

As a summer intern with the Bureau of Forestry at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Calkins spent her days traveling across northwest Pennsylvania, exploring and learning about the environment she loves.

Working in the Cornplanter State Forest District, which covers 1,585 acres in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Warren, and Venango counties, Calkins’ days were as varied as the landscapes she explored.

“Every day was something different,” she said. “One day I’d be meeting with a private landowner about how to manage their land, and the next, I’d be identifying rare plant species with researchers.”

One of Calkins’ most memorable moments during her internship was working with DCNR’s Division of Forest Health to treat ash trees affected by the emerald ash borer.

“They were essentially doctors for trees,” she explained, describing how they injected ash trees with medicine to combat the invasive insect. “I've never done any work like that before, and it was really cool to see them working to save the species.”

Throughout her internship, Calkins was excited to apply the knowledge and skills she was learning in her classes and to share it with others around her. She thanks instructors Dr. Julia Morgan and Dr. Ovidiu Frantescu for their passion and encouragement, as well as their guidance as Calkins looks ahead to her future.

Not only was Calkins’ internship an exciting and educational experience, but it also clarified her career aspirations. She envisions a future working outdoors in environmental education, combining her love for nature with a desire to share her knowledge.