What happens when you combine field research, Indigenous partnership, and a passion for protecting wildlife? This CCPD stipend-supported internship with the Buffalo Field Campaign shows how one student gained career-defining skills while working to safeguard Yellowstone’s wild bison and educate visitors on their importance. Here is the story in her own words:
“For my summer internship, I worked with Buffalo Field Campaign: A Non-profit focused on protecting the last, wild Bison in and around Yellowstone National Park. With a focus on stopping the harassment and slaughter of Yellowstone Buffalo, BFC emphasizes working with Indigenous nations to honor and protect their sacredness. The protection of their natural habitat helps to restore historic migration patterns. Since Buffalo (Bison bison bison) are a keystone species, their conservation is necessary for the future of surrounding environments.
During my time at BFC, I had multiple projects and responsibilities. From tabling in Yellowstone to doing wildlife reports, I gained a lot of vital experience in the field of wildlife conservation. Tabling allowed me to interact with tourists through science communication. This involved educational posters illustrating collected data, such as Bison migration patterns in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and pamphlets with further information. In addition, we had one-on-one conversations to provide further context and answer any questions. Through imputing native species data sets into wildlife reports, I gained skills in field work and mapping software. When I wasn’t tabling, I wrote updates from the field for our supporters, along with imputing data into wildlife reports. This helped me gain skills in field work and mapping software. Lastly, I assisted in performing tasks to keep the cabin running smoothly.
Overall, I gained important knowledge and experience in my field of study, aligning with my future career goals. As a biology major with a minor in Anthropology & Sociology and a concentration in Environmental Studies, my internship meshed each of my passions together into one common goal. Learning both through the lens of Western science and Indigenous connections allowed me to have an appreciation of the issue at hand. Portraying this through tourist education required me to have a deep, rooted understanding to be able to answer questions. I can’t wait to see what I can do next with this gained experience and knowledge!”
Natalie Ward ’26