ABSTRACT PUBLIC-USE INTERNSHIP WITH PEA ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA By Jennifer Eileen Weiskittle My internship with Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge primarily focused on public-use activities. I presented and developed educational programs, lead tours, staffed special events, provided nature interpretation, and assisted with visitor center operations. In addition to public-use activities, I performed building, public-use area, and hurricane maintenance duties. I also participated in the turtle volunteer program, a black bear population study, and brown pelican banding. This internship has given me the opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts while expanding my interpretation skills and my love for the environment. PUBLIC-USE INTERNSHIP WITH PEA ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA An Internship Report Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Science Institute of Environmental Sciences By Jennifer Eileen Weiskittle Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2004 Advisor______________________________ Dr. Hays Cummins Reader_______________________________ Dr. Adolph Greenberg Reader_______________________________ Dr. Gene Willeke CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... V LIST OF PLATES ........................................................................................................................ VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.........................................................................................................VII Chapter I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 II. IMPACT OF THE INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES..................... 2 III. THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM..................................................... 4 IV. PINWR AND ARNWR..................................................................................................... 5 PINWR History.......................................................................................................... 5 Location ............................................................................................. 5 Establishment..................................................................................... 6 Colonization....................................................................................... 9 ARNWR History...................................................................................................... 11 Location ........................................................................................... 11 Establishment................................................................................... 12 Colonization..................................................................................... 13 Objectives ................................................................................................................ 13 Management Tools................................................................................................... 14 Structure................................................................................................................... 16 V. INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................... 17 Roles ........................................................................................................................ 17 Primary Role .................................................................................... 17 Secondary Role ................................................................................ 17 Full Time Public Use Duties.................................................................................... 17 Education Programs......................................................................... 17 “Turtle Talk”........................................................................... 18 “Raptor Rapture” .................................................................... 20 “Sound Side Discovery” ......................................................... 21 Public Canoe Trips.................................................................. 23 ii Roving Interpretation....................................................................... 25 Visitor Center................................................................................... 26 Administrative/Office Work ............................................................ 28 New Program Development.................................................... 28 Current Program Redevelopment ........................................... 28 Writing, Research, and Databases .......................................... 29 Native Plant Garden......................................................................... 30 Media Coverage............................................................................... 30 Press Tour ............................................................................... 30 UNC-TV ................................................................................. 31 Intern Training ................................................................................. 31 Special Public Use Events ....................................................................................... 32 Engelhard Seafood Festival ............................................................. 32 North Carolina State Fair................................................................. 32 Wings Over Water ........................................................................... 33 Tidewater Council Camporall.......................................................... 34 Other Festivals ................................................................................. 37 Maintenance Duties ................................................................................................. 37 Buildings.......................................................................................... 37 Public Use Areas.............................................................................. 38 Rainy Days....................................................................................... 39 Hurricane Isabel............................................................................... 39 Biological Duties ..................................................................................................... 41 Sea Turtle Volunteer Program ......................................................... 41 Black Bear Population Study........................................................... 42 Brown Pelican Banding ................................................................... 43 VI. ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................... 45 Structure................................................................................................................... 45 Training.................................................................................................................... 45 Public Use ........................................................................................ 45 Maintenance..................................................................................... 46 iii Biology............................................................................................. 46 Communication........................................................................................................ 46 Between Program Areas .................................................................. 46 Between Supervisors and Interns..................................................... 47 Staff meetings .......................................................................................................... 47 Programming............................................................................................................ 48 Program Times................................................................................. 48 Program Variety............................................................................... 48 Outreach........................................................................................... 49 Evaluations....................................................................................... 49 VII. OVERALL EVALUATION OF INTERNSHIP .......................................................... 50 VIII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 52 IX. REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 53 X. APPENDICES................................................................................................................. 54 APPENDIX A. ARNWR STAFF SHEET 2003...................................................... 55 APPENDIX B. PINWR PROGRAM SCHEDULE................................................ 56 APPENDIX C. MOSQUITO HAWK PROGRAM................................................. 57 APPENDIX D. WILDIFE OBSERVATION PROGRAM ..................................... 83 APPENDIX E. WINGS OVER WATER PRESS RELEASES .............................. 87 APPENDIX F. WINGS OVER WATER THANK YOU LETTER........................ 93 APPENIDX G. KIOSK PANEL.............................................................................. 94 APPENDIX H. NATIVE