Meet our 2024 intern: Liz Houston

Hello LCAC family, my name is Liz Houston, and I was this summer’s college intern. As a Gettysburg College student and an Environmental Studies major, when this opportunity came to me, I jumped on it. I have always had an interest in conservation. Last summer I served in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corp. through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Student Conservation Association. This experience sparked an interest that I had the chance to build upon during this internship.

I have spent this summer discussing and exploring all the beautiful farms and forests of Adams County while learning about conservation easements, which in all honesty, I had never heard of prior to this. I attended annual inspections with Sarah and completed the required reports which gave me a chance to understand how easements work.

By filling out grant applications, I had the chance to not only add an invaluable skill to my toolbox, but also learn how 501(c)3s function. I am truly grateful for the experience I had this summer. I got to see beautiful properties and meet some wonderful people. I even got to see a bear and cubs along with some other crazy wildlife.

I would like to think that this internship gave me the opportunity to explore another aspect of my major and I have truly enjoyed it. This has solidified my interest in conservation and land use. Maybe in the future I will be working at a land trust as an employee, but until then I will use what I have learned this summer and continue to support the conservation of the land that I love.