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Updated: Mar 28, 2021

With summer quickly approaching, the Landscape Architecture Students and Professionals in RI are wondering how internships (remote or otherwise) will work during the COVID pandemic this summer. We asked a few students from the University of Rhode Island to share their experiences last summer to help the RIASLA members continue to think about how to support this important step on their career path. If you have had experience or have any suggestions to add leave a comment below!

 

Sarah McGraw

URI Landscape Architecture Senior

Internship: East Coast Greenway / I worked from Upstate New York on a section of the greenway for Freeport, Maine.


Type of internship: Remote, I worked with two other students.


Connection: I connected weekly with the other two students and with our professor who managed the internship. We met with the advisor of East Coast Greenway (ECG) for the New England Area along with the Town Engineer of Freeport about twice a month.


Adjustment time: Since we were coming off a remote spring semester adjusting to online internship was rather easy.


Challenges: Some challenges I faced was not being able to see the site in person. Being so far away along with being in a pandemic I was not able to visit the site. This gave me the opportunity to strengthen my skills in GIS mapping, enhance my communication skills through contacting the town to gain information of the site, and learning to work on one project with multiple people while not being able to physically be together.


Tools: We used Zoom when communicating with the ECG and Freeport town. Zoom was used more professionally. For weekly check-ins we used Google Meet, this seems to be a more relaxed platform.

 

Miranda Hulme

URI Landscape Architecture Senior


Internship Company/Location: Andover

Landscape Design and Construction LLC. Andover, MA


What type of internship did you have? I had an in person internship. It was with a design/build firm where I mostly worked in the field with the fine gardening team. Occasionally, I would work with the construction team.


How often did you connect with your manager and how was it done? Daily, through text or a phone call. They would always visit the sites being worked on at least once a day.


How long did it take before you felt integrated? My experience was great, I felt a part of the team the moment I started! I had previously worked for a construction company so I had a little knowledge under my belt. The ALDC team was extremely supportive and wanted to make sure I was learning as much as I possibly could. I was able to strengthen my plant knowledge tremendously. I was also able to learn more in depth about the business side of a design/build company. I had the opportunity to shadow a day in the office of the landscape architects and designers learning tips and tricks when it comes to computer programs and hand drafting.


What were some of the biggest challenges you overcame? One of the challenges I faced was having lack of perennial plant knowledge. It was hard to identify some of the plants in the field. I overcame this by asking questions when I did not know what a particular plant was and having my coworkers constantly quizzing me.


What type of precautions were used? To get to the site we all took separate transportation, socially distanced while working with each other, wearing masks, eating lunch separate from each other and not sharing tools throughout the work day. I always carried hand sanitizer on me as another safety precaution.

 

Lindsey Corse

URI Landscape Architecture Senior


Internship (1): Ben Blue's Backyard Creations

What type of internship did you have? I had a virtual internship I started in the summer of 2020 that has carried over to the present. I draft footing layouts and construction documents for residential decks. Depending on the project, I use Vectorworks, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop.


How often did you connect with your manager and how was it done? My contact with my employer was almost entirely online. I communicate throughout the week with my employers via email and sometimes by text or phone call. I can work entirely remotely with flexible hours.


How long did it take before you felt integrated? I had very little prior decking knowledge, but I was trained by another URI student for the first few months which helped me become more comfortable. My employers have been very patient and encouraging during my learning process.


What were some of the biggest challenges you overcame? Maintaining a balance between work and school can be difficult when the company is especially busy. Time management has been difficult but thankfully I make my own hours.


What type of tools did you use to collaborate and how were they used? We use Microsoft Outlook as our email server. We submit drawings back and forth and communicate by drawing our thoughts and creating diagrams. Visual and verbal communication tools have been helpful.

Internship (2): Cumberland Rhode Island Planning Department

What type of internship did you have? I had a virtual internship that I started in February 2021. I work in the planning office as a consultant.

How often did you connect with your manager and how was it done? My contact with my employer is not daily, but we schedule quick check-ins and meetings throughout the week. We meet with Google Meet or Zoom. Sometimes we communicate over the phone as well.

How long did it take before you felt integrated? I still feel that I am adjusting in this position because it is so new, but the learning curve has not been too difficult.

What were some of the biggest challenges you overcame? Maintaining a balance between work and school can be difficult. Finding time in general is difficult, but thankfully there is always work for me to do and things to learn.

What type of tools did you use to collaborate and how were they used? We collaborate by providing comments, notes, and drawings on work and revising them accordingly. I work with Photoshop, AutoCAD, and InDesign mostly for this position.


 


Updated: Apr 6, 2021

In celebration of Earth Day, Landscape Architecture Month & the Ocean we all love, Rhode Island ASLA and Clean Ocean Access are partnering up to present Coastal Cleanup April! On Saturday the 10th, 17th, and 24th we will meet to clean a portion of the coast and help eliminate marine debris. At the end of the month, we will have a total weight for garbage removed! This is a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the local environment and to catch other ASLA members in a safe socially distant environment. We will provide the gloves and bags and take care of the trash afterward. All you need to do is register, bring a copy of your form, and show up ready to clean!


The entire event for each day will be outside from 12:00 – 2:00 and everyone participating is required to practice social distancing, including wearing a mask. Each person participating must preregister for the event, sign the waiver and bring it with them on their phone. To sign up you can click on the links below or find the events on our calendar.



We Look Forward to seeing you there!

To all RIASLA members,


I hope that you are all staying safe and healthy. At a time when we should be ramping up for World Landscape Architecture Month, we find ourselves isolated in our homes. Most offices have sent their employees to work from home. Most municipalities have shut their town offices and many constructions sites have been ordered to shut down. Our day-to-day lives are certainly quite a bit different than we ever could have expected just a couple of months ago. While it is uncertain how long these strange and scary times will last, one thing that it is certain is that we will not soon forget it. It will leave a lasting mark on our economy and our opportunities as landscape architects. During these unprecedented times, I encourage you to reach out to your colleagues and to support one another.

RIASLA President Andrew Pichette and his at home co-worker


Originally, I had drafted this “President’s Letter” as best practices for landscape architects to keep ourselves sane during these troubling times. Instead, I decided that you all might be able to use something to take your mind off of things for a minute.


Like most of you, I’ve been working from home over the past week. During that time, I have found myself getting into a good, but very different, groove. Every day, I get out for a walk with my wife, my daughter, and our dog. I bring this up because it’s something that we used to do frequently but like many other things, we get so caught up in our day to day lives that we forget to include these simple things that make us happy.


I recently sat in as one of the judges for the University of Rhode Island RIASLA Student Awards. We heard from 4 different students and their instructions were to capture and present projects that reflect their passion for landscape architecture. All four students came from different backgrounds and had different approaches to some of the same projects. One of the students asked a question that I’ve had on my brain for several weeks now, “Why Landscape Architecture?”


April is Landscape Architecture Month and while we won’t be able to get together for networking events or celebrations, I would encourage you to put your phone down and step away from the news and social media for just a few moments and think about how you got where you are today. As licensed or aspiring landscape architects, we all come from different backgrounds, some from our long-lasting love of the outdoor world, some with construction backgrounds, some applying their love of arts and design. We even find ourselves in different “niches” of landscape architecture, as planners, residential landscape architects, and even disc course architects. Remind yourself of what drives you as a landscape architect, challenge yourself to find out-of-the-box solutions to problems that may seem easy to solve. If you’ve lost that fire that you had when you were fresh out of school, use this time to try to find it again. Remember ‘genius loci’ and try to capture the spirit of place in all your designs.

Ask yourself, “Why Landscape Architecture?”

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While we are all social distancing, here are a few tips and tricks to celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month while also practicing social distancing:

  • Take the time to get outside and go back to some of your favorite parks or projects.

  • Encourage your neighbors to do the same and advocate for the work you’ve done as a landscape architect.

  • Break out your sketchbook and draw. Share your sketches on Instagram, tag RIASLA and use the hashtag #SketchingDuringWLAM.

  • Reach out and connect with your colleagues, past and present, and make sure they are doing well.

Please be on the lookout for some digital educational opportunities we’ll be offering over the coming months. We hope to see you as soon as this all passes.

Be well—






Andrew Pichette

RIASLA Chapter President

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