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Student Gains Skills With Raptor Center Internship Meredith College rising sophomore Kristen Gallagher, ’13, who plans to work in a museum after college, is gaining skills this summer through an internship with the Carolina Raptor Center (CRC). The CRC, located in Huntersville, N.C., is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. “I am actually an education department intern, but I work with the summer camps at the center,” said Gallagher, who is from Charlotte, N.C. “The five camps, which each last a week, provide a fun setting for kids aged 4-6, 7-10, and 11-14 to learn about and interact with birds of prey and nature.” Her duties have included organizing and planning activities for the camps, redesigning the classroom and painting murals, budgeting and purchasing materials, and helping to create events such as scavenger hunts and crafts. She will also serve one of two counselor/interns at the camps, supervising and leading several counselors-in-training and constantly tweaking activities. All of her efforts are helping her gain experience for her future career. Gallagher hopes to work in a museum, science center, or other cultural institution as an education coordinator and outreach specialist. “I feel that working at CRC is helping me learn and build skills that allow me to put education into action in diverse settings,” Gallagher said. “It is truly helping me get hands-on experience in my intended field.” Gallagher plans to declare a contract major in museum studies next year, along with earning a minor in art history. Two faculty members have been especially helpful to her during her time at Meredith. “I’ve been truly fortunate to have found a good niche in the Art Department,” Gallagher said. “Dr. James Boyles and Dr. Beth Mulvaney have been instrumental in helping me formulate and work on my goals academically and otherwise. I hope to create relationships with other professors in other fields as well – I think collaboration between departments is key in getting a great education.” Completing an internship such as the one Kristen Gallagher has at the Carolina Raptor Center is just one way to build skills during the summer. Click here to see how other students are spending their summers.
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