Save the Northwest Prairie!

This summer began like most summers here at the Pacific Rim Institute with clouds in the sky and anticipation for the arrival of a new group of interns.  Each year, we hold a competitive application process for young adults to come and spend the summer on Whidbey Island learning the ins and outs of restoring native prairie habitat.  Despite this being an unpaid internship, we receive many applicants each year that are eager to gain valuable field skills.  This year, we had a top-notch team join us.

Catherine Welke joined us for the month of May to assist with a specific research study on prairie restoration.  Catherine recently graduated with a B.S. in Biology from The Kings University College in Edmonton, AB, Canada.  She spent every day going out into the field with representatives from the University of Washington to collect valuable data from a collection of research plots.  This data will add to out understanding of what methods (mowing, fire, herbicide, etc) are most effective for restoring native prairie to abandoned agriculture land.  Catherine says, "This internship will allow me to gain field research experience that will help me get into a school for graduate studies".

Mark Tyson is currently working on an Environmental Studies degree at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. Rocio Jacobo just finished a B.S. in Biology from Azusa Pacific University in California.  Mark and Rocio spent almost three months here on the prairie gaining experience in every aspect of the restoration process, including: managing native plants in our greenhouse, collecting and cleaning rare native seed, managing volunteers, controlling non-natives with mowing, herbicide and weeding, collecting research data, and developing an implantation plan for a new native berry patch.  Mark says, "I chose to come here so I could work outside and help to restore the native prairie". Rocio says, "I wanted to intern at PRI to explore restoration and habitat management, as well as develop invaluable research experience and skills".

Between the three interns, over 1,000 hours were invested into the prairie.  The educational value of our internships is key to the success of our prairie restoration endeavors. Your investments are not only saving northwest prairie, they are preparing new generations to save native habitats all around the world. 

Thank you for your gifts!  If you every have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
(360) 678-5586  Pacific Rim Institute Office