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Mound House

A Cultural & Environmental Learning Center

Internship Program

Spring 2003

Natalie Doyle, a Communications Major from Florida Gulf Coast University, used her internship to hone her public relations and marketing skills. Her project was to gather information about how other historical and environmental sites in the area operate, how many visitors they receive, where and how they advertise, what types of programs they offer, how much they charge for admission or request as a site donation, and other information that will be useful to The Mound House's success. As the Mound House is still in its initial years of operation, it is important to gain a clear understanding of how non-profit sites and programs in the area operate efficiently.  Residents and visitors to south Florida alike have a variety of options to visit places that are historically, environmentally, or archaeologically based.  Natalie investigated how best the Mound House fits into this web of public resources and to helped develop a marketing plan for the center.

Regan McBride, an Anthropology Major from Florida Gulf Coast University, worked primarily in the Mound House's Archaeology Lab where artifacts, like pottery, discovered at the site are reconstructed.  Regan worked with volunteers on Saturdays as they endeavored to piece together ancient, puzzle-like pottery fragments found within the mound during the 2002 excavations. Regan also designed a series of archaeology 'day camps' for school children to be held in March in connection with the State of Florida's Archaeology awareness month. This internship combined Regan's love of archaeology with public educations and working with school children. Regan said that she found her internship at the Mound House rewarding because she could see "public interest and respect for preserving cultural resources raised in the visitors and the volunteers that I work with."  She also feels that archaeology and history can help show children that "there are biases in their own culture and there are different ways of doing things than what they are accustomed to.  Understanding that each culture is different will encourage children to respect others."

On a weekly basis, Amber Wynn, an English Major and Anthropology Minor from Florida Gulf Coast University, wrote articles and informational pieces to educate the public about the Mound House's history and current activities or events.  By submitting these articles to local newspapers and the Mound House newsletter, Amber strived to create a better public awareness about the site. At the time of her internship, Amber planned to go into education as a career and stated "the opportunity to transform scientific and historical information into interesting and understandable articles is a valuable experience." Amber is now a teacher in Collier County.

Fall 2003

John Crayton, a History senior from Florida Gulf Coast University, spent the semester scouring through mortgage and deed records and newspapers from the 1920s.  His research corresponds with the time period when the Mound House was expanded into a full two-story house by Jack DeLysle. John's project provided him with research experience in primary sources while solidifying the site's knowledge about this period of time. As a final internship requirement, John presented a summary of this research at the Estero Island Historic Society.  

Spring 2004

Christina Gerwitz, an intern in public relations, is passionate about writing, anthropology, and working with the public.  She assisted the site by penning articles on our activities for newspapers and providing tours to site visitors on Fridays. Christina also participated in ongoing archaeological excavations at the site to gain background information for many of her newspaper pieces.

Spring 2005

William Moss, a Liberal Studies Major and Anthropology Minor from Florida Gulf Coast University focused his internship on simplifying cultural history and complex archeological concepts and methods into a standardized curriculum for fourth and fifth grade students.  He also provide tours of the Mound House to the public and represented the Mound House at community education outreach events.

Summer 2005

Scott Goodwin, an Environmental Studies Major and Anthropology Minor at Florida Gulf Coast University, combined environmental science and public education in his internship. He assisted with a variety of activities including archaeology field work, environmental education programs for adults and children and photo documentation of projects at the site.  The primary focus of Scott's internship was assisting in the production of a basic field guide to the common flora and fauna associated with Estero bay and an interpretive booklet on human-environmental interactions in southwest Florida over the last 6,000 years.  The field guide will soon be available to visitors that participate in kayak tours of Estero Bay.

Fall 2005

Christine Merchant, a History Major at Florida Gulf Coast University, researched the activities of the James Foundation at the Mound House between 1947 and 1951. She will be continuing this research in 2006 for her senior project.

Spring 2006

Chris Tenn, a History Major, began his internship at the Mound House in the spring of 2006.  Exploring local newspaper clippings that Christine Merchant had compiled he embarked on a project that provided further insight into the life of Dr. Robert James, the founder of the James Foundation at the Mound House.  During this time he also wrote articles for local papers with information pertaining to the Mound House, its significance as a cultural resource, and the work being done to preserve and enhance the site as a valuable property for the local community. Following graduation, Chris continued with the site as an archaeological intern, working on the archaeological excavation underneath a swimming pool once constructed in the Calusa Shell Mound.  

Misty Snyder, an Environmental Sciences Major with an interest in native plants, assisted the Mound House by providing a plant survey of existing vegetation and compiling literature references on the use of plants in the prehistoric and historic periods. This information provided valuable background data for the landscape architects producing a landscape master plan for the property. Eventually, the Mound House grounds will be restored to include native hammock, shell mound vegetation, and incorporate plant species used prehistorically for food and technology. The historical landscape of the 1920s will also be restored to augment the historic William H. Case house.

Spring 2007

Deena Woodward, an Anthropology Major at Florida Gulf Coast University, started her internship in the Spring of 2007.  With a varied academic background ranging from Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Art History, and Classical Archaeology, Deena has found her calling within the field of Anthropology.  She is excited to be participating in ongoing archaeological excavations in the Calusa Shell Mound, as well as assisting with lab work.   Deena hopes to learn more about the field of archaeology and its methods.  She would also like to acquire more information about the native inhabitants of this area.

Corey Foster, an Anthropology Major in her second year at Florida Gulf Coast University, began her internship at the Mound House in the Spring of 2007.  Her academic interests include the Social and Ecological Sciences, as well as Humanities, though she would like to specialize in Cultural Anthropology.  Corey's work at the Mound House has her participating in an excavation in the Calusa Shell Mound, as well as assistance in the lab.  She is happy to be undertaking such an experience, and hopes to learn all she can about archaeological field work to further pursue her Anthropology degree.

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