What does your day-to-day look in your internship? 
 
My internship with EOS Eco-Energy focuses mostly on water quality monitoring at 16 sites around Tantramar, Strait Shores Rockport, Dorchester, Port Elgin, and Cape Tormentine. There is a good mix of field work and data crunching in the office. When I am not working on water quality work, I am assisting my co-workers with their projects such as community garden maintenance, climate change adaptation, science and environmental education with youth, assisting and coordinating clean-up programs with the other southeastern watershed groups, and various training opportunities such as geomorphology training; bee, bird, and butterfly training; protests for climate action; community outreach; activism; and much more. 
 
What are the most important skillsets you will take away from this experience? 
 
There is a lot to add to my resumé after this internship. The executive director at EOS (and my supervisor) has been a superb mentor — giving me the space I need to learn at my own pace and allowing me to ask questions whenever I have them. Beyond the technical skills such as time management, literacy, and data management, what I am learning at EOS, that I love, is how to be an engaged activist through a grassroots movement. I'm learning how to educate, act, and demand change in our society through an intersectional lens.   

What connections have you made throughout this process that have made it an impactful experience now and for the future?  

I have had many opportunities to meet and build relationships with many people and organizations. From the communities we work directly with such as  Amlamgog First Nation, members of the Seniors for Climate, Board members of EOS, members of the United Church, other Watershed Groups, Open Sky, and more. 
 
What’s next after Mount Allison? 
 
I don't know what's next after Mount Allison. Right now I'm just happy to be where I am.  
 
Hounsell’s internship was funded by FutureNB.