GROWing Out of My Comfort Zone - Brianna Barr

Hello, I am Brianna Barr and I recently had the opportunity to intern at Project GROWS during the summer of 2026 as a Summer Camp Intern. At the end of August I will be transitioning into an online program through SNHU from Bridgewater College. I will be beginning my senior year of college and I’m studying Environmental Science. 

I chose to apply for this internship because my long-term career goal is to become an interpretive ranger at a national park. In this role I hope to lead educational ranger programs, outdoor learning experiences, and guided hikes to inspire people to connect with the environment and nature around them.

I applied to this internship through Project GROWS because the skills I would gain aligned with my career goals. Through this internship I got experience leading activities and gained skills that I will carry with me into my future career. During my time at Project GROWS I learned valuable hands-on experience through leading learning stations, activities, games, and opening and closing circles. I also gained more confidence with leading things on my own that will be beneficial to me when I begin working as a park ranger. 

My favorite part of this internship was spending time with my coworkers and leading group activities with campers throughout six weeks of camp. I spent three weeks at the Waynesboro Education Farm and three weeks at the Project GROWS farm. Every day brought new opportunities to connect with each of the campers through games, hands-on activities, and learning stations. I especially enjoyed getting to know some of the campers one-on-one and it always made me so happy when they asked me on the last day to take their picture with me. 

This internship meant a lot to me, it helped me to gain more skills that I get to use in my future career and most importantly it made me comfortable with being uncomfortable. During my time as a summer camp intern I was able to grow out of my comfort zone through leading a number of different tasks. This internship also slightly challenged me in ways I never expected and aided me in gaining knowledge and skills that I will carry with me throughout my career. At the very beginning of camp I was nervous about leading large groups of campers through activities and by the end of my few months of working I was able to easily lead these groups without being nervous. Doing this helped me to grow as an educator and communicator. 

Reflecting back on my time, I am beyond grateful for my experience at Project GROWS. It built upon my passion for environmental education and strengthened my leadership skills. Most importantly, it reminds me that personal growth often happens when you are willing to embrace new challenges. I will forever be grateful for this experience and the memories and friendships that I gained through my position. I would also like to thank all of the amazing and supportive Project GROWS staff who walked beside me during my internship. Thank you PG!