Environmental Education Intern, Robin Carson, shares a window into the Brooksdale Internship experience.

I’ve been nuzzled by a llama, touched a gelatinous clump of frog and salamander eggs, met 300 people (thereabouts), took goats for a walk on a leash and saved a goat whose head was stuck in a fence many, many times. (The grass is always greener…). I did some chicken wrangling, played food-web tag, cooked lunch for about 30 hungry people, learned the British words for truck and sweater and underwear, had a chickadee eat sunflower seeds out of my hand, met an Australian Priest who told me about Blundstone footwear, learned there is a vegetable called celeriac and ate some, played a whole lot of Dutch Blitz, saw bald eagles soaring, watched an inspiring documentary with students at a local university, saw a wild male trout caught for transport at the Hatchery, and stuck my hand in the chilly Pacific Ocean. All this and much more in just over 2 weeks!

I am Robin, one of the new interns here at A Rocha. I am an older intern and I come from Austin, Texas. I was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario Canada. When I was 19 my family moved to Texas (first to the Dallas area, then 2 years later to Austin), I went to university there (studying Theology and Counselling / Psychology).

Robin (left) gathering eggs with fellow intern, Torreana Goodman (right)

I have been working primarily with children and disabled adults, and also in the arts. I was eager to reconnect and live in Canada once again, learn more about farming and live in Christian community. I searched online and “A Rocha Canada” appeared on my computer screen – a perfect fit!

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but lots of fun. Already I have learned so much and I’m excited about what lies ahead. The people I’ve met are truly hospitable and genuine. I hope to get to know them on a deeper level – and yes, maybe even Shadow the llama too.

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