During the first week of training I often found myself swaying to the strumming guitar and singing voice of one of my fellow interns. I eventually met the man behind the music, Alberto Kanost, who goes by the name of Bear. Originally from Louisiana, Bear moved with his family to Milwaukee. He discovered the Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park and eventually worked as one of our outdoor leaders while he was in high school. He’s spending his summer as one of our educator interns and will return to the University of Wisconsin in the fall where he’s double majoring in Environmental Studies and Life Science and Communications.

2017 summer educator intern Alberto "Bear" Kanost. Photo: Sarina Counard-Ryals

As the marketing intern, I get to tag along with our summer camps, documenting all the fun activities and hanging out with the educator interns. This is how I met Denise Manjarrez.

Denise grew up near our Menomonee Valley Center, and like Bear worked as one of our outdoor leaders in high school. A student at Alverno College where she is studying Environmental Science with a minor in Women and Gender Studies, Denise enjoys contributing to the Urban Ecology Center’s mission by “getting people outside and teaching them.”

2017 summer educator intern Denise Manjarrez. Photo: Sarina Counard-Ryals

Denise and Bear are spending their summer soaking up the sun (and sometimes rain) while they help their campers discover the nature around them. For Bear, interning at the Center is a way to put his belief that “all people should experience nature and have the opportunity to be outdoors” into practice. For Denise, she finds the excitement of her campers to be “empowering. Whether they’re holding a worm or jumping in puddles it’s an opportunity to teach.”