My name is Laura Callwell, and I am a junior at Brevard College which is located in Western North Carolina.  My major is Environmental Studies, and my minor is Wilderness Leadership.  Some of my hobbies are riding horses, rock climbing, going hiking or camping, going scuba diving, and basically anything else involving the outdoors.  Since I am an environmental studies major I am required to do two internships for my major.  When I found out that this was requirement I was excited because I have such a deep love for the outdoors, so I really wanted the think up an internship that required me to do most of my work outside in a hands-on environment.  I am doing this assignment as the first of my two environmental internships through JR, the Geology professor at Brevard.  Headwaters Outfitters is the company that I worked for this summer and also the place I am doing my internship through.  They asked me to put together a pamphlet of all the flowers that grow along the river banks in Western North Carolina between the months of March and October.  This project was put together so that Headwaters customers could identify the flowering plants along the river banks while they float down stream. I also love rc helicopters (my friend's data)

    I am still a junior at Brevard College and I am working on my second and final internship.  Since I love horses and people so much my decision to work at Las Praderas doing the Free Rein program is a great opportunity for me to get involved with the community.  Free Rein is a Therapeutic Riding Program that works with at risk youth, emotionally, physically, or mentally challenged children and adults.  This program is based on the healing connection between horse and humans. 

    I have been working on this assignment since the end of February 2004 and have only begun to learn everything I need to know.  By June I will be certified to teach Therapeutic riding lessons.  This so far has been a great learning experience, although it has been very trying on my patience.