Mara Feldman, an environmental science and management major, joined the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s Learning by Leading™ internship program to further her plant knowledge and gain hands-on experience. Along the way, she developed valuable leadership skills.

Working with staff mentor and environmental steward, Miles DaPrato, Mara and the Ecological Land Management internship team care for naturalized campus lands. They have a special focus on restoring and enhancing the native wildlife habitat of the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve – a rare ecosystem used for teaching, research, and community recreation.

“I’ve always been passionate about the environment, and having an opportunity to be involved in hands-on restoration practices as an undergrad is exciting,” Mara said. 

I strongly believe ecological land management will play a huge role in my future career. It’s what I am passionate about, and I know the things I’ve learned in this program will help me be a leader in this field. - Mara Feldman

DaPrato says as a mentor, his goal is to teach students hands-on skills and provide them the chance to grow as leaders as they work together to protect natural resources and improve the environment for both wildlife and humans.

“Training students like Mara, who are eager to learn the nuts and bolts of habitat restoration and resource conservation, will have a big impact,” DaPrato shared. “In addition to restoring our precious natural lands, these experiences give students the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills for future jobs related to habitat restoration and ecological land management.”

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