Benjamin Sisson spent a second summer as a WLCT BayCoast Bank Summer Stewardship Intern.
Interns learn about Westport’s varied habitats, from tall pine banks to mossy wet woodlands, dry grasslands to coldwater streams. Throughout the summer, interns are exposed to the many facets of conservation, including invasives removal and property care (mowing, trail maintenance); with the new berry planting at Snell Creek, Benjamin spent many hours watering and mulching–learning more about farm work than he did in the summer of 2025. The Stewardship team also worked on the new trails on the Westport Wood expansion (Sodom Road Conservation Project) and trail building at Snell Creek.
An Eye for Nature
On every property, Benjamin’s keen eye captured creatures and plants large and small. Those that are native to Westport, he photographed and noted. Below are a few of his photographs.
Oblong-winged katydid ( (Amblycorypha oblongifolia) at Camara; Blinded sphinx moth (Paonias excaecata) at Westport Woods.
Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) at Mill Pond; Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) at Richmond Pond.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) at Snell Creek; Osprey (pandion haliaetus) at Richmond Pond.
Ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora) at Old Harbor Wildlife Refuge; DeKays brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) at Dunham’s Brook.
NATURE-Inspired Play
Interns work on individual projects that deepen their own understanding of conservation, stewardship, and public-facing properties. Benjamin’s primary project was reworking a play structure in the Children’s Garden at Westport Woods. What type of structure would benefit children while also teaching about nature? Benjamin’s project involved learning about play structures and how to situate them, determing where it should go and prepping the Garden. Supply chain challenges prevented Benjamin from being onsite for the installation, but we are looking forward to its installation.
Benjamin will be studying at UMass Lowell, learning more about environmental sciences, history, and ecology.