Max Barr (right), Hana Tabit (center) and Carly Sherman (left) share your dedication to caring for the environment. 

What has been your favorite part of the BayCoast Bank Outreach and Stewardship Summer Internship?

It has been an absolute joy to work with a team of enthusiastic volunteers and coworkers this summer. Banding together in a time so riddled by division to help preserve and improve our Westport Land Conservation Trust trails is an experience I will value for the rest of my life. 

Hana Tabit

My favorite part of the summer internship has been all the incredible people that I’ve met! I’m so glad I have gotten to know the hardworking people who protect and maintain Westport land, but also the amazing community of nature lovers who volunteer their time to better our town.

Carly Sherman

My favorite part about the internship was the people who I got to work with. Even on days when it was scorching hot or raining, Carly and Hana always had positive attitudes and were willing to crack jokes. The same goes for Brendan and Ross. No matter how much they had on their plates and given day they would always take extra time to explain a plant of piece of equipment to me. Even though we were doing strenuous work, the days went by quickly thanks to the stories and humor of Hana, Carly, Brendan and Ross.

Max Barr

What is the most important thing you’ve learned/gained from this internship program?

After this internship I have a whole new appreciation for land and what it takes to preserve and maintain it. The sheer amount of time and labor required to manage the properties was something that I did not expect and I now have a ton of appreciation for the people who manage large amounts of land. Another thing I learned from this internship is how important adaptive problem solving is. We would often run into problems that required creative solutions and Brendan and Ross would always use what they had at their disposal to remedy the situations.

Max Barr

This internship has provided me the invaluable ability to make a positive contribution to my local community, especially during a time when people are turning back to nature as a refuge from the isolation we’ve all been experiencing this year. It’s wonderful to see people genuinely enjoying the trails while knowing I have played a part in maintaining this precious resource. 
Hana Tabit

The internship program taught me how I can be a better steward of the world around me. Working with trail team, I learned that you don’t need to be an expert in environmental science to make a change! Just by showing up and putting in work you can benefit the land around you.
Carly Sherman

(Above) Carly Sherman adds a new coat of white stain to the gates at Westport Woods Conservation Park.  (Below) Max Barr installs a new trail sign post at Headwaters Conservation Area.

Why is it important to support your local land trust?

Hana Tabit installing a new trail sign post at Westport Woods Conservation Park. 

I have lots of family that live in the Westport area and we benefit greatly from the natural beauty that Westport has to offer. Whether it is taking a hike or going for a swim at the beach, the nature in Westport has never disappointed us. With all that being said it is very easy to take land for granted. Unfortunately, many people do not fully appreciate what they are surrounded by until it’s gone. This is why I think that it is so important to support your local land trust.

Max Barr

The Westport Land Conservation Trust is the largest land owner in Westport! It is so important to support your local land trust because these people work every day to provide trails and green spaces for you to enjoy while also working to protect land for many generations to come.

Carly Sherman

The Land Trust works tirelessly to make its trails accessible to anyone. By supporting the WLCT or your local land trust, you are not only ensuring that public use of these properties can continue, but you are also helping to preserve habitat and protect unique Westport ecosystems.

Hana Tabit

The Westport Land Conservation Trust, Inc. Outreach and Stewardship Summer Internship Program is made possible, in part, by our friends and sponsors at BayCoast Bank. A community bank serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island, BayCoast provides personal and business banking services, insurance and investments.