Our staff is abuzz with new interns! Tyler Parrish-Lewis will be tackling the tough job of maintaining our preserves this year, battling invasives and keeping public spaces safe and tidy for you. He’s a NJ native studying at the University of New Hampshire towards a degree in forestry with a minor in wildlife conservation biology. While working with TLCNJ, he's simultaneously pursuing Wildland Firefighter qualification. Tyler is interested in the use of fire as an ecosystem management tool—especially important coming off NJ’s recent drought and increased extreme weather. He hopes to eventually land a career in the wildland fire world. Tyler says, "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to connect local communities with the ecosystems around them. I hope to help redefine what constitutes 'nature' in people's minds and push forward the idea that valuable natural areas can be accessible even in seemingly urban spaces." We couldn’t agree more! (fb)

We are delighted to welcome Grace Nelson as our new planning fellow! Born and raised in Cincinnati, Grace is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Beside environmental planning work and research, she enjoys running, hiking, and working with the urban wildlife of Philadelphia. She says, “I’m excited to work with TLCNJ protecting open space and natural resources is foundational to environmental resilience. As a planning fellow, I can contribute to conservation efforts that guard land, water, and biodiversity and ultimately support a greener, more sustainable New Jersey." Grace is already hard at work in our planning department, and we can’t wait to see where she’s headed! (fb)