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A Message From Our 2026 Summer Interns
Hi everyone!
My name is Ru, and I had the best summer interning with the Arundel Rivers Monitoring Team! I am from Marriottsville, MD, about to head into my senior year of college at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I am studying Environmental Science and Policy with a specialization in Marine & Coastal Management.
Even though I have learned about the Chesapeake Bay in my classes, this internship taught me so much about the local environment that I never knew before! This summer, I assisted the monitoring team with our Tidal Water Quality Monitoring Program and Bacteria Monitoring Program. I loved being able to get out on the water every week, as we collected pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, clarity, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), chlorophyll a (algae), conductivity, and salinity data in the South, West, and Rhode rivers. It was also a great opportunity to see unique wildlife, like ospreys, great blue herons, and even a northern watersnake. Since my hometown is a bit far from here, this internship allowed me to discover so many awesome parts of the Annapolis area.
My favorite part of the summer was assisting in our submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration program. Before this internship, I had no idea how important underwater grasses were for the health of our local waterways. They play a vital role in improving water quality by trapping sediment, absorbing excess nutrients, reducing erosion, and producing oxygen, all while providing habitat for many native critters. Through our SAV restoration program, we harvest, process, and plant SAV to help these species (Horned Pondweed, Sago Pondweed, and Widgeon grass) thrive in our rivers. For my capstone project, I focused on spreading the message of how important SAV is by designing a mural and educational signage for our turbulator. The turbulator is a large jacuzzi-sized tub that is used to process SAV. It helps separate the plant material from the seeds. With the help of Riley, Arundel Rivers’ Monitoring Programs Coordinator, and some other volunteers, we painted a meadow of native underwater grasses to educate visitors about our restoration work.
Honestly, this internship has been one of my favorite work experiences I have ever had. I feel so lucky to have a job where I am spending time outdoors and working alongside other passionate people to protect our environment. A huge thank you to all the staff at Arundel Rivers for making this summer so educational and fun. Everyone was so welcoming and created such a positive learning environment. I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful community!
Ru Subramaniam
Hello!
As the Education and Outreach intern at Arundel Rivers Federation this summer, I have had the chance to partake in so many amazing opportunities. From guiding environmental education explorations at Camp Letts and Marshall Hope Learning Center to harvesting submerged aquatic vegetation to process and collect its seeds, I have had the summer of a lifetime. Growing up in Arnold, I thought I was familiar with the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay, but this summer not only proved me wrong, but taught me so much more about the South, West, and Rhode Rivers.
Through this position, I also had the chance to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Internship Program, which introduced me to so many amazing people doing such incredible work. On August 7th, this program had its end of summer symposium where I presented on my capstone project, the Green Careers Fair. This event, which I hosted in partnership with Quiet Waters Park, introduced middle school to college students to a variety of careers in the environmental field. Planning the career fair gave me valuable insight on how to put together a successful educational event, a skill which I will no doubt take with me into my future endeavors at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and beyond into my career.
The best part of the summer was without a doubt teaching at YMCA Camp Letts and Marshall Hope Learning Center. Getting to engage campers with activities that not only teach them to respect and appreciate our natural world, but also have fun and view learning as a privilege rather than a chore, was so special. So many kids connected with and valued our lessons, and all of them taught me just how important it is to truly value education and to put the utmost effort into supporting our younger generations.
I am forever grateful to my mentor, Mairin Corasaniti, for giving me guidance and support throughout the months I have spent at Arundel Rivers Federation. I also cannot thank the Arundel Rivers team enough for giving me this once in a lifetime experience, and for offering so much of their kindness and expertise along the way.
I hope to see you on the rivers!
Sydney Hall
