My name is Mark Wolanski and I am from Wilmington, Delaware. Since March I have been serving as the six month Garden/Estate intern but will be transitioning to the Natural Lands intern in May. I have recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. By majoring in geography, students take courses related to agriculture and natural resources, natural resource management, and environmental science. I have taken a multitude of classes ranging from physical geography, to land and water management, to economics of agriculture and natural resources. Throughout my college career, I have developed the types of skills that will allow me to be a valuable member of the Winterthur Garden Department.
After my internship at Winterthur, I will begin to work on my Masters Degree in Environmental Science. A few weeks ago I received my acceptance letter into the graduate program at Wesley College located in Dover, Delaware. While attending Wesley I will be taking courses that blend the natural and physical sciences with policy. Some areas of research I am interested in are land resources management, environmental policy, advancing my knowledge of GIS applications, wetlands science, and how these different areas are influenced by climate change.
The Natural Lands internship will help me prepare for graduate school by giving me real-world working experience by allowing me to help with environmental projects at Winterthur, by aiding the horticulture staff to implement proper management practices, and learn how to properly maintain outlying areas on the estate. I look forward to working with the entire garden staff throughout the spring and summer. Be sure to stop and say hi if you see me in the garden!
