I have officially been at Save the Dunes for 2 weeks. My office is tucked away within the woods in the Barker House in Michigan City, IN. As you pull into the driveway, you are greeted by a beautiful house surrounded by trees and native plant gardens. My office is at the top of the stairs. It is floor-to-ceiling wood paneling with three windows looking into the tree canopy. My desk directly faces the windows, and I love to watch the leaves sway in the wind with the light shining down on them. Laughter and talking fill the air, making for a very homey feeling in the house. Starting an internship can be a weird spot to be in. Imposter syndrome is hitting you from left and right. You are caught in the middle, not quite a full employee, but you still have a job within the organization. I struggled with this for my first few days. Having such an incredible team of women there to support and encourage me has been such a blessing. I am excited to work with people who truly care about the environment and protecting it for future generations.
Throughout this summer, I will be updating the membership database by reaching out to members
through calls and emails. I am excited to speak with a variety of people and hear why they love and support
Save the Dunes. I will also be continuing the process of inventorying our archives and picking out the gems.
In my first few days, I spent a lot of time learning about Save the Dunes’ history and getting myself
acclimated. On May 28th, I had the privilege of attending a tour of some Grand Calumet River Areas of
Concern (AOC). The event was put on by the Nature Conservancy. They have spent a lot of time remediating
these sites back to what they once were. The area consists of a unique ecosystem called dune and swale. It
features alternating sandy ridges and low wet areas that repeat. From an aerial view, it looks like corduroy.
The properties we visited were beautiful, quiet, and a peaceful place to be. However, what really
caught my attention was the location. These areas were sandwiched between steel mills and refineries. I
asked myself how such beauty could exist among the pollution and industry. This day in particular, I was
really struggling with my purpose. It was my first full week at Save the Dunes, and I was struggling with what
I was there for and if I was worthy of the position. Oddly enough, seeing these properties was comforting.
Knowing that, with some love, care, and patience, this land was able to thrive under the pressure from the
industry surrounding it gave me some reassurance that I would be ok. Much like the sites, I just needed a
little time and attention to find my footing.
caught my attention was the location. These areas were sandwiched between steel mills and refineries. I
asked myself how such beauty could exist among the pollution and industry. This day in particular, I was
really struggling with my purpose. It was my first full week at Save the Dunes, and I was struggling with what
I was there for and if I was worthy of the position. Oddly enough, seeing these properties was comforting.
Knowing that, with some love, care, and patience, this land was able to thrive under the pressure from the
industry surrounding it gave me some reassurance that I would be ok. Much like the sites, I just needed a
little time and attention to find my footing.
I can now say confidently, after two weeks, that there is immense beauty in the in-between. I may
only be there for the summer, but my work is important and needs to be done. I have found meaning and
purpose in the work that I am doing while discovering skills and interests that I never knew I was capable of. I
may not know everything, and sometimes I will doubt myself. But, if I have learned anything these past two
weeks, it’s to give myself grace and find the beauty within the moment.
Emma Depa, Save the Dunes