This week marked a transition from purely indoor research to practical field application. I participated in my first hands-on weeding session at the Wild Mile, which allowed me to build directly upon my knowledge of different plant species. Working alongside volunteers and fellow interns, we manually identified and removed invasive weeds that actively compete with native plants for vital nutrients and sunlight. Managing this physical workload under the sweltering Chicago sun in temperatures exceeding 80°F proved challenging, but I managed the environment by ensuring I stayed well-hydrated and took consistent, planned breaks in the shade.
Last week, the team managed an unexpected wildlife situation when a bird was spotted with its wing trapped in a tree branch. The Urban Rivers team responded quickly and carefully to free the animal from the branches, placing it temporarily on a patch of the floating garden where it could be kept safe until medical personnel arrived to assess the damage. This incident sparked a compelling internal debate among the team regarding the ethics of wildlife intervention: specifically, whether an animal suffering from a non-human-caused injury should be left to adapt to its natural environment (where risk and injury are inherent to the food chain) or whether it should be kept for veterinary evaluation. Ultimately, the team chose the latter, keeping the bird shielded from the sun in a box before transporting it to a veterinary clinic for professional care.
My personal project is now well underway as Week 5 approaches. My core focus has officially shifted from the initial phases of baseline research collection, data gathering, and emailing various municipal organizations and departments, toward the structural design and outlining of the final presentation posters that will encapsulate this information. Having completed the second third of the internship timeline, I feel satisfied with the groundwork established so far, but remain driven to maximize the productivity of my remaining time here.
In terms of personal and professional development, I have become significantly more comfortable with the daily routines, internal communication, and public-facing elements of the role. At the beginning of the internship, I felt unsure of myself when it came to presenting my independent project to my peers or representing the wider organization to external entities. However, by observing the examples set by my colleagues, I have developed a much deeper understanding of my specific tasks and how they integrate into Urban Rivers' broader operational objectives.
This week required both the application and evolution of my personal character. I relied heavily on collaboration and temperance, remaining calm and patient while learning new operational systems and building relationships with my colleagues. This habituation has notably increased my self-confidence and systems-level understanding. By continually reflecting on my core values of open-mindedness and ethical engagement, I have been able to align my efforts so that they genuinely support and benefit Urban Rivers' day-to-day operations.