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Cammie Moore, a Master of Environmental Management student, spent her summer as a business plan intern (BPI) with the National Park Service (NPS). Moore is concentrating in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments and Environmental Analytics and Modeling. 

Each year, Nicholas School of the Environment students complete internships with organizations around the world. These summer experiences provide valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network. 

Duke Environment recently caught up with Cammie to learn more about her experience. 

What aspects of the experience did you find most rewarding or memorable and why?

One of the most rewarding parts of my BPI internship has been the opportunity to work with a fantastic team and take ownership of a meaningful project. The internship is structured similarly to a consulting project, which gave my co-consultant and me the chance to dive into a complex visitor use dataset for Canyonlands National Park. It’s been fulfilling to collaborate with the park’s leadership and see how our analysis is being applied in real, practical ways.

How did the coursework and resources at the Nicholas School prepare you for success in this role as well as your internship search?

The coursework at the Nicholas School has been incredibly valuable in preparing me for my internship. Three classes that stood out in particular were Applied Statistical Modeling, Exploratory Data Analysis, and Introduction to Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). Each provided practical, hands-on skills that I was able to directly apply during my internship.

For example, I used techniques from these courses to build a model of river congestion and to analyze how different permit structures could impact visitor costs. These experiences not only strengthened my technical skills but also helped me approach real-world environmental challenges with a data-driven mindset.

Did you collaborate with any Nicholas School alumni? If so, how did those connections add to your summer experience?

The director of the BPI program was a Duke alum – though not a Nicholas School alum – and he was incredibly helpful by teaching me about the BPI program.

How has this internship influenced your career aspirations? Did it confirm or change your professional goals in any way?

This internship has had a big impact on my career goals. I was really inspired by the people I met in the National Park Service; their dedication to public lands and conservation was incredibly motivating. The experience confirmed my interest in pursuing a data-focused career, but it also opened my eyes to the opportunities of working within the NPS itself.

It’s an environment that combines meaningful problem-solving with efficiency and a strong sense of purpose, while all grounded in a shared passion for protecting and connecting people to nature. That blend really resonated with me and helped clarify the kind of work I want to be doing moving forward.