Sarah Lown joins the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust to help the nonprofit with it’s mission of preserving and protecting thousands of acres on the Plateau.
Lown will maintain trails and help with the continuous effort to remove invasive species of plants throughout the Plateau. This entails pulling weeds, removing bushes, and carefully applying pesticides to the roots to prevent regrowth.
Her first project is focused on removing invasive species in Sassafras Gap area.
Lown added she’s a good fit for land trust because she loves being outdoors and making an impact on other people’s education.
“I’ve wanted to be in environmental science for a while,” said Lown. “When I was in middle school I participated in the science fair and researched plants. I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, but it will definitely have to do with the environment.”
HCLT Intern Sarah Lown said she is excited for her new position and enjoys protecting the environment while on the job.
Outside of work Lown enjoys hiking, spending time at the gym, and being with family when she’s not on the clock.
Lown said the search for an environmental internship is no easy process as she was looking for some time before landing the HCLT position. Her advice for others seeking similar positions is to “start early, go for anything, and not be discouraged if you get turned down.”
Lown recently finished up her sophomore year at Western Carolina University, where she’s studying to be an environmental scientist.
She also has a job taking photographs for her school.
Her family moved from Florida to Cashiers when she decided to enroll at WCU. She said she likes Highlands because it’s not far from home and there are a lot of woods in the area.
Article and Photos by Gwyn Brady
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