CalTrout News
At CalTrout, we believe in empowering the next generation of conservationists. It will be their world to live in, and they deserve the opportunity to shape it. This summer, our Policy Intern, Lily Scurria, an undergraduate student at UC Davis, has embodied this spirit, making a tangible impact through her dedication, passion and go-getter mindset.
Finding the Perfect Fit
Lily's love for nature has been a constant throughout her life. Growing up, she spent countless hours exploring hiking trails and camping with her family, nurturing a deep-seated appreciation for the environment. Now a student at UC Davis, she’s focused on environmental biodiversity and conservation, while also exploring her long-standing interest in policy. When she discovered the CalTrout internship, which combined hands-on conservation work with advocacy, she knew it was the perfect fit. “It checked all my boxes,” Lily said.
Real Work, Real Impact
Unlike many internships where fetching coffee is a rite of passage, Lily’s role at CalTrout has been deeply engaging and impactful. From attending and participating in hearings at the Capitol to creating outreach materials for our partners, Lily has been at the forefront of our policy efforts.
One of her standout experiences has been attending various legislative hearings – where she is immersed in the heart of the action. Among these, her favorite was the hearing for Assembly Bill 460 focused on water resources. Though she was there to testify in support of the bill, she found herself fascinated by the series of other ones being discussed. “Seeing the legislative process in action was incredible,” Lily said. “I got exposed to environmental bills and issues I wasn't previously aware of and saw them addressed in real time, which made me even more passionate about the conservation field."
Her role in these hearings often involved giving "me too" statements, a critical component in humanizing the impact of legislation. Initially nervous, Lily has become more comfortable and confident in delivering these testimonies, developing a first person understanding of the importance of personalizing bills. "Lily’s contributions during hearings have been invaluable. When representatives see people line up to speak, the human impact of these bills shines through,” said Analise Rivero, Associate Director of Policy at CalTrout. “Lily spoke from the heart, and her authenticity and conviction made a real impact. It was hard to believe this was her first testimony.”
Lily’s hands-on work at the Capitol has provided her with a fresh perspective on how government and policy-making operate. Meeting a diverse group of passionate individuals, all working towards the same environmental goals, has been an eye-opener for her. “It’s easy to be pessimistic about environmental outcomes, but this experience has shown me just how many people are committed to making real, lasting change,” she said.
Crafting the Message
Another significant component of Lily’s internship has been creating fact sheets for CalTrout. These dual-purpose documents are designed to inform both representatives and coalition members about CalTrout’s initiatives and projects. Through comprehensive research on different representatives and their interests, Lily personalized each fact sheet, highlighting the relevance of CalTrout’s projects to their constituents. She even created district-specific maps to visually connect our work with the representatives’ regions.
“This process taught me how to write professionally and persuasively, which is so different from my school assignments,” Lily shared. “I learned that the classic five paragraph essay only gets you so far!”
What’s Next for Lily?
Reflecting on her internship, Lily feels more certain than ever about pursuing a career in environmental policy. “This internship has opened my eyes to the number of roles that exist at the intersection of conservation and legislation. I’m not exactly sure where my path will lead, but I’m really excited for what’s ahead,” said Lily. “Maybe law school? Well, maybe I should get through undergrad first.”
Lily also feels incredibly fortunate for all the people she has met and worked with at CalTrout. “Working closely with CalTrout’s policy team has been amazing. Their passion, expertise, and dedication to conserving California's landscapes and species made me excited to come to work every day. I feel fortunate to have learned from such accomplished professionals. Seeing strong women in leadership roles on the team has been particularly motivating as I pursue my own path in environmental conservation."
Celebrating Lily’s Journey
Lily is not the only one who left this internship feeling jazzed about CalTrout’s conservation work. “It became clear to us early on in the internship that Lily was incredibly passionate, thoughtful, and had a strong desire to learn as much as she could. She fit right in at CalTrout and her enthusiasm brought a ton of excitement to our team,” said Kam Bezdek, Policy Associate at CalTrout. Working with someone who not only wanted to create meaningful change, but wanted to learn and immerse herself in the processes anyway she could, reminded all of us why our work is so important and why all restoration-based organizations should invest in the mentorship of the next generations of climate leaders.”
As she continues to pave her own path in conservation, the whole CalTrout team is excited to see where her journey leads and will be cheering for her the whole way.
