Our first day at our internship site was amazing! We started out our day at Prairie Ridge Ecostation in the outdoor classroom. There, we met our mentors and talked about our hopes, fears, and expectations. Then it was time to have fun. In our groups, we became experts on a species of Dragon Flies. We walked down to the Ecostation pond and observed Dragon Fly behavior and migration patterns. We were also able to catch a few to get a closer look at the insect. I was very surprised to find out that Dragon Flies can bite!

Next, DeAnna took team ants out into the woods to look for ant colonies. We found a lot of Needle Ants, which are an invasive species, but we were able to find a colony of Black ants and brought them back to the lab. While in the woods we observed a baby deed in its nest and a blue salamander. It was breath taking to be outside enjoying all of the beauty of this hidden gem in Raleigh. I highly suggest visiting the Ecostation.

Next, we ventured to the Museum of Natural Science to learn about our new home away from home. All of the labs were very interesting and filled with technology. Our first day was beyond my wildest expectations and I can not wait to see what else will happen during my internship.