By: Shelby Coulton, CDRW Communications Intern
Photo: Peter Marx (CDRW), Kelly Knutson (CDRW), Meagan Schaefer (CDRW), Shelby Coulton (CDRW), Ellen Underwood (CDRW), Senator Carper (DE)
Over the past 10 months, I have had the amazing opportunity to work as the Communications Intern for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW). Prior to beginning this internship, I graduated in 2018 with degrees in Environmental Studies and Anthropology and began working as a wildlife rehabilitator shortly after. I always had an interest in the environmental nonprofit sector but struggled identifying how to bridge these two career paths. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to fill CDRW’s Communications Intern position this past January, allowing me gain invaluable skills and to navigate my career in a new and exciting direction.
From the first day of my internship up until my last, I worked on projects that expanded my knowledge, sharpened my skills, and challenged me. There was never dull moment. I was able to participate in CDRW’s work in a variety of ways, including: attending our Communications and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Workgroup calls, completing CDRW’s master membership directory, creating social media toolkits, writing blogs, collaborating with Choose Clean Water Coalition to create and share Civic Engagement resources, attending press events, and much more. I also learned how to use a variety of key nonprofit communications tools such as Hootsuite, Canva, SquareSpace, and Constant Contact.
One of my favorite highlights of this internship was that I was able to work with Meagan Schaefer, CDRW’s Outreach and Communications Manager, to launch two new recurring social media series on CDRW’s digital channels- titled “Watershed Wednesdays” and “Friday Features”. Through these projects we were able to experiment with new methods of digital engagement, share fun facts about the watershed, and elevate the incredible work of our members. Most importantly, through all these experiences I was able to contribute to meaningful and fundamental causes that create positive change in the Delaware River basin states.
Overall, this internship was more than just a conventional internship experience. I was provided opportunities to learn in a supportive and welcoming environment where I was treated as a valued member of the CDRW team, was always encouraged to share my thoughts, and was entrusted to use my abilities to uniquely contribute towards communications tasks. Throughout my internship, I was empowered to grow not just professionally but personally. This role has reinforced a variety of skills such as content creation, project coordination, and collaboration skills, and has strengthened my confidence in my capabilities.
I am stepping away from this internship with gratitude and excitement for my future in the nonprofit sector. Most of all, I cherish the friendships that I have established with the CDRW team, coalition members, and partners and look forward to continuing those relationships into the next chapter of my career. Thank you for an amazing internship experience CDRW!