Every summer, Catawba Riverkeeper welcomes a new group of interns to the team, each dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring the Catawba–Wateree River Basin. Here's a fun look into the first week of David Anderson, a Davidson College student, as he gets settled into his role as the Marketing & Communications Intern, from exploring facilities to learning about our mission and programs. 

Why did you apply to Catawba Riverkeeper? 

It was really important to me to make an impact in my local community this summer. Growing up in the Hickory area and now continuing my education by Lake Norman at Davidson has meant I’ve been around the Catawba–Wateree River Basin my entire life. So, when I was searching for internships this past school year, stumbling upon a nonprofit organization like Catawba Riverkeeper felt like the holy grail. It gives me the chance to give back to both of my homes by supporting an organization that works to maintain the beauty and quality of the lakes that run through them. 

What are you doing this summer? 

My internship, along with the other interns, is centered around a program Catawba Riverkeeper runs called Swim Guide, which monitors fecal contamination at over 60 popular swimming sites throughout the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Each week, this program involves collecting samples from multiple sites along the river, bringing them back to the lab in McAdenville, and testing them for E. coli levels. We then help share the results to inform the public about how safe these locations are for swimming. 

As the Marketing and Communications Intern, I’ll be working alongside our Marketing and Communications Manager, Susannah Bryant, to create better engagement around our findings. Through a variety of projects, I hope to help spread awareness and provide the broader Catawba–Wateree River basins community with the information they need to enjoy the river safely and responsibly. 

What have you learned in your first week? 

My first few days have been a whirlwind of learning about Catawba Riverkeeper’s mission and resources. From hearing about our founding in 1997 to current projects like advocating for Senate Bill 329: Recognizing the South Fork Passage State Trail, which would authorize a 60-mile paddling, hiking, and cycling state trail along the South Fork. I’ve been soaking in all the details of how the organization operates. 

I’ve also had the chance to explore the key facilities that help us reach our goals from our headquarters to Confluence, our taproom with the motto “taproom with a purpose.” It’s been fascinating to see how all these different spaces contribute to one shared mission. 

What are you most excited about this summer? 

One thing I’m really looking forward to is the Floating Concert happening later this summer on August 2. It was originally postponed due to the weather during RiverFest, but the delay means that now the interns will actually be able to attend! 

Beyond that, I’m just excited to be part of a team that truly does it “for the water.”