Thank You, Heidi!
We are so grateful to our FOVB Summer Intern, Heidi Gibson, who exceeded our expectations with her accomplishments in this inaugural year of our internship program. She is a previous FOVB Scholarship winner.
We asked for 150 hours of work from Heidi, and she gave us 183. She upgraded our Friends of Volo Bog website, which will go live soon. She worked with IDNR staff to further develop the Trail of Twelve Trees program, design permanent plaques for the identified trees, and create a related brochure. She gave hours of time to active docenting and leading bog tours, represented FOVB and IDNR at the McHenry County Fair, and updated and created FOVB flyers.
She started an Instagram account for FOVB and wrote delightful, frequent Volo Bog Blog posts, including photographs. The attached picture of Heidi lying on the boardwalk (courtesy of Grace Horner) taking closeup photos of Bladderwort plants in the Bog is an example of her enthusiasm and effort.
Did you know that bladderwort (Utricularia) is a rootless carnivorous plant with flowers that resemble miniature snapdragons? It's famous for having the fastest suction-trap mechanism of any plant.
Thanks to Julia Denne, who championed the FOVB Internship program, and served as a guide and resource for Heidi.
And thank you again, Heidi! You were an excellent choice to get our FOVB internship program started. We wish you all the best as you pursue your nature-related career. Wherever you go, you will be a real asset! We will miss you here!
What an absolute pleasure being with Heidi on Fridays and at the McHenry County Fair. Was so much fun being on the same team! Good Luck and have fun during the school year!
Kim Darby
Heidi asked me to take pictures of her at the eye while she worked on getting pictures of the Bladderwort. We had a great time walking the boardwalk in the rain, taking pictures and identifying lots of plants. So we gave ourselves a tour. Great work Heidi!
Cheers, Grace Horner FOVB member
So wonderful to see this important and beloved piece of earth be well cared for and lovingly represented. Love the intern program, and much gratitude to Heidi!