Meet LCC’s Summer Intern - Serena Buono!

The allure of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains convinced Serena Buono to change a statement she had made in 9th grade, “I would never go to school in Burlington, Vermont.” Always a fan of the lake and the comforting skyline of tall mountains, it became clear that these precious ecosystems were exactly what Serena wanted to study and protect. Suddenly, Burlington was the only place she wanted to attend school! Now, at the end of this summer, Serena will proudly enter her senior year at the University of Vermont, majoring in Sustainability, Ecology, and Policy with a concentration in environmental policy.  

Serena is this summer’s public policy intern for LCC, and she loves it! Her passion lies in advocating for large-scale policy changes while invigorating citizens at the grassroots level to become more involved with the environmental protection movement. She believes that motivated individuals at the community level are the most important element of achieving a healthy and accessible environment. This interest aligns well with LCC’s cyanobacteria monitoring program, aquatic invasive species monitoring through CHAMP, and water quality advocacy. LCC is grateful to MobilizeGreen, a nonprofit which sponsors environmental interns across the country, for making Serena’s internship this summer possible.  

Playing her role on the policy side of LCC, Serena has been researching recent road salt reduction and anti-foam bills in the New York legislature as well as exploring local water quality organizations in New York. Additionally, she has been helping with LCC’s cyanobacteria monitoring program and drafting educational materials on dock foam awareness through the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Community Action Coalition.

Living in Burlington during the summer has been a wonderful experience where she has been able to get in touch with her passion of working for the environment while enjoying the summer sun. In her free time, Serena can be found participating in the Lawrence Debate Union at UVM, swimming and paddleboarding on Lake Champlain, reading mystery novels, and listening to music with her closest friends.