ACE Alumna Tandria Burke and the Power of Saying Yes to New Challenges
ACE alumna Tandria Burke served in the organization’s EPIC (Emerging Professionals In Conservation) program where she successfully completed a year-long internship with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Tandria’s accomplishments are numerous – her original role with USFWS primarily focused on administrative functions and educational outreach, in which she flourished. However, she significantly expanded her professional experience by adding to her initial duties in administrative work and outreach to hands-on biological field work.
This career development was solidified when she was asked to extend her term to conduct sea turtle nesting surveys at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This extension allowed her to participate regularly in the entire nesting and hatching cycle, which involved patrolling beaches, verifying nests, protecting them with wire cages, and monitoring hatchling success.
By taking on these varied and complex field duties, in addition to her foundational work in administration and education, she made significant contributions to her role and those around her. Tandria’s willingness to take on more responsibility and broaden her skillset demonstrates her passion for conservation and her experiences in field work will impact her future environmental educator roles.
A Voice for Wildlife
One of Tandria’s most significant impacts was felt during the annual Save the Florida Panther Day. In the previous year, the event had seen a dip in engagement, with only 20 participants. Sensing the importance of the mission, Tandria took the reins of the outreach campaign.
She launched a month-long digital strategy, utilizing social media and QR-coded flyers to spread the word. She focused on the “human” element—pitching the event as a rare, free, family-friendly opportunity.
The result? Over 150 people attended, the highest turnout the refuge had seen in five years. Her efforts didn’t just fill a parking lot; they revitalized a community’s connection to an endangered species and the land it calls home.
Leading by Example
Being the only intern at her office meant Tandria often wore many hats. On any given day, she might be found performing trail maintenance, caring for snakes, checking trail cameras, or managing facility safety checks.
To further her skills, she completed a grueling 40-hour course to become a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) through the National Association for Interpreters. Proving her commitment to the “pay it forward” mentality of the Corps, she even created a comprehensive class outline for Florida Panther programming to ensure that the next intern would have the tools they need to succeed.
“My term with ACE was more than an internship; it gave me a sense of purpose… I feel free—free of not feeling confident in my work or myself.” — Tandria Burke
The Next Chapter: Minnesota and Beyond
The impact of a Corps experience is best measured by what happens next. For Tandria, the skills she honed in Florida led directly to her current role: Environmental Education Intern with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Minnesota.
In this new role, she teaches 4th and 5th graders about natural history, turning the wetlands into a living classroom. It is a perfect synthesis of her administrative organization, her biological field knowledge, and her passion for public outreach.
Tandria’s story is a reminder of what is possible when a young professional is given the platform to lead. She didn’t just complete hours; she protected species, broke attendance records, and built a bridge to her future. We cannot wait to see what Tandria does next!