Refuge gains visitor services intern
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel welcomed intern Zachary Bocker to assist Ranger Tucker Phillips this summer as the Sue Tray Memorial Visitor Services intern.
A graduate of Bryn Athyn College of The New Church in Pennsylvania, he earned a degree in May in biology, with an interest in conservation. Bocker grew up in Tawas City, Michigan, and comes from Rochester Hills, Michigan, where he last worked as a family medical leave-of-absence coordinator for Sedgwick insurance services.
“I greatly appreciate being surrounded by nature, as well as the kindness of everyone I’ve met,” Bocker said of his internship. “Upon graduation from college, I assisted one of my professors conducting research on pollinators in the suburban areas of Philadelphia near the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust. I’m eager to return to the microscope and ID guide here at ‘Ding’ while assisting visitors in enjoying and appreciating the refuge any way I can.”
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) provides housing, living stipends and other benefits for six to eight interns each year. Since Hurricane Ian destroyed onsite intern housing in 2022, it has procured off-site housing with the intent to build on-site housing in the future.
“Our refuge interns become even more important this year with staff attrition,” Phillips said. “We know Zach will channel his incredible energy and passion to make ‘Ding’ as welcoming and enriching as possible.”
The DDWS currently stewards six named internships for the 2025-26 year and is accepting donations for future named intern funds. For information about supporting the internship programs, contact Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991.