My experience with restoration corps

Charlie O.D. Smith, Restoration Corps crew member

When Melissa Young, a professor at Rowan College of South Jersey, first suggested I apply for the American Littoral Society, I hesitated. Environmental science had never really been on my radar. As someone who’s always dreamed of becoming a physician, my focus was firmly on human health. But looking back, I’m so glad I took that leap of faith. This experience has completely reshaped the way I think about health. Through the Society, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for One Health [the idea that human health is inseparable from the health of our environment]. It turns out, you can’t truly care for people without caring for the world they live in.

Beyond the science of it all, this job has been a gift in so many other ways. I’ve met incredible people from all kinds of backgrounds—each one passionate, welcoming, and driven in their own way. Finding a community of like-minded individuals who push you to grow is essential for a successful environment.

Also, I’ve grown more than I expected. Public speaking used to make me nervous and nauseous but giving presentations through this role has helped me find my voice—and build confidence I didn’t know I had.

All in all, I can’t recommend the American Littoral Society enough. Even if you don’t think you’re an “environmental person,” this experience has taught me that we all have a stake in nature. Get outside, learn about your local environment, and understand how its wellbeing is directly tied to your own. You might just discover something new.

I am now working on a project that I'm calling called EcoBulletin. The idea is simple: a lot of information about environmental issues and local decisions is technically available to the public, but it’s often buried in lengthy documents or written in complicated language. I’m exploring a way to make this information easier for the average person to understand through short, approximately five-minute community updates.
Before I build the project further, I’m conducting a short survey to learn what people in South Jersey actually want to know about their communities and how they currently get this information.

The survey takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. If you are in South Jersey, please fill out the survey here and follow the Instagram page.