From UMass to Harwich: Meet Connor Donovan, HCT’s summer intern
Connor Donovan rode in from the west, ready to swing into the saddle as Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) summer intern. Luckily, the journey from East Longmeadow wasn’t particularly daunting, and it also helps that Donovan has a deep connection to Harwich.
“My great-grandparents moved to Harwich in the late 1960s,” said Donovan, who is studying environmental engineering at UMass Amherst. “I’ve been coming here my whole life. I love the community, the beaches, and the wildlife. There are a lot of fun things to do in this town.”
UMass student Connor Donovan is Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) 2026 summer intern.
He’s also a big fan of exploring the Berkshires and served up a shout-out to Skinner State Park in Hadley, which offers more than 40 miles of hiking trails, with amazing views of the Connecticut River Valley from the top of Mt. Holyoke.
Donovan is enjoying his college courses, particularly because “the majority of the time we are outside,” he said. That dovetails nicely with his summer HCT duties, which feature a variety of outdoor land stewardship projects, including invasive plant removal, trail maintenance and native planting.
“I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the great volunteers and working with them,” said Donovan.
Organizing the BioBlitz
But the biggest challenge for Donovan this summer will be helping to organize HCT’s first BioBlitz at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. Set for September 19th, the event will take place all day and into the evening, with volunteers tallying as many species of animals and plants as they can find.
The big count will provide an informative snapshot of the flora and fauna that call Cold Brook home, demonstrate the value of biodiversity and provide a fun quest for folks who love the results of HCT’s ambitious eco-restoration project at the Preserve.
Completed in 2025, the rewilding effort at Cold Brook added a half-mile All Persons Trail, restored 44 acres of wetland and a mile of stream habitat. Now home to all kinds of wildlife and flourishing native plants, the area has become a popular hiking and nature-watching destination — and it’s the perfect location for a BioBlitz.
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) summer intern Connor Donovan will be working on a variety of land stewardship projects and helping to organize the upcoming BioBlitz event at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve.
Donovan has been contacting experts to lead the various BioBlitz teams, helping to hone the taxonomic groups of species they will be looking for and working on the schedule of what will be an exciting day in Harwich. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting event!
Good for wildlife and people
As a student of environmental engineering with an interest in water quality issues, Donovan has been impressed with the results of the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project. An important goal of the effort was to help naturally remove nitrogen from the waterway – a common byproduct of commercial and residential development, and a significant issue on Cape Cod.
According to the Town’s wastewater planning consultants, the eco-restoration will potentially save taxpayers over $6 million in wastewater infrastructure costs by naturally reducing nitrogen that otherwise could have impacted Saquatucket Harbor on Nantucket Sound and would have required expensive sewering to remediate.
“This project helps keep Saquatucket Harbor clean,” he said. “It’s good for wildlife and good for people.”
Over the past few weeks, Donovan has been visiting HCT properties and trying out the trails. “The properties are very well maintained,” he said, crediting HCT volunteers under the leadership of Director of Land Stewardship, Connor O’Brien. “And I’ve seen lots of people out enjoying nature.”
Donovan thinks the rigors of the COVID-19 pandemic may have instilled a new appreciation for exploring the great outdoors. “People felt the need to go out, do things and see the world,” he said. “You can’t get the same feeling when you’re looking at a screen. You actually have to go out and feel the sun, feel the wind, feel the air.”
He’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fresh air this summer with HCT — welcome aboard Connor!
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