The D&L Blog

This summer the D&L welcomed two new interns, Michael and Rebecca. We’d like to introduce them!

Michael Sutherland

Education: Bachelor of Science in Geography, Minor in GIS, Penn State University ‘16

Age: 21

Favorite Dessert: Soft Pretzels

Favorite Fruit: Granny Smith Apples

Favorite Band: Switchfoot

Favorite Quote: “Men are like fish, they don’t know when to keep their big mouths shut”

Fun Fact: Michael has a twin sister, Rachel, who also goes to Penn State.

What’s Great About the D&L: “I like how hard the D&L works hard to link and preserve the history in the corridor, and how it makes education available even on the trails.”

Michael has put his studies to good use here at the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, since his main tasks have focused on locating, identifying, and replacing signs along the trails using his GIS and mapping skills. He can frequently be found biking around Hugh Moore Park with notebook in tow, though he stays active even when he’s not at work. Michael regularly participates in marathons, having raced in the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2013 and 2015, and the Boston Marathon in 2014. In his free time, Michael enjoys hand-drawing maps, and has completed a collection of regional locales.

Rebecca Van Horn

Education: Ph.D Candidate, History and Culture, Drew University

Age: 22

Favorite Dessert: Homemade Cannoli

Favorite Fruit: Kiwi

Favorite Band: alt-J

Favorite Quote: “If you don’t follow your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable…you might as well be a cabbage.” –Burt Munro

Fun Fact: Rebecca learned how to put up drywall while still in elementary school.

What’s Great About the D&L: “I like how important community engagement is to the D&L and the National Canal Museum. It’s clear that the presence of the D&L Trail makes a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Rebecca has had a wide array of tasks since starting at the D&L, which makes sense considering her various interests. She has assisted in the development of community arts projects, grant research and applications, and instructing elementary students about history and science during Immersion Days. Developing and editing the D&L’s new website has also become a central component of her internship. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys taking road trips, reading Virginia Woolf’s novels, attending flat-track motorcycle races, and watching Netflix with her cat, Samson.

Our interns, Michael and Rebecca, aboard the Josiah White II in Hugh Moore Park.