Each year the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation offers interested young scholars, ages 15-22, the opportunity to intern at a Long Island History Organization through the Gardiner Young Scholars Program. The Shelter Island History Museum has been a proud host of a Gardiner Young Scholar for 5 years. Each successful candidate must complete 100 hours of service at their host organization, and at the end, they are required to produce a short video detailing their experience. 
 
Here’s how our young scholars spent their summers.
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2025: Charlotte Bruner

​Our 2025 Gardiner Young Scholar Intern was Charlotte Bruner, a sophomore at Stony Brook University majoring in Studio Arts.

Charlotte’s primary assignment was to reorganize the SIHM art collection and update both the digital and physical catalogs. Each piece was cross-referenced across both systems to ensure accuracy and then updated with current condition status and storage locations. Charlotte completed detailed condition assessments for over 160 pieces of artwork and determined which needed attention or repair. 

After completing this extensive project, Charlotte turned her attention to preparing for our exhibit, ​ "Ingrid McBrian: Shelter Island In Thread And Paint."​ The exhibit features a remarkable 9’ x 15’ rug handwoven by Ingrid McBrian, a beloved local artist known for her weaving, painting, and deep commitment to community and charity. Charlotte inventoried all of the McBrian pieces in our collection, researched her genealogy and life history, developed a preliminary floor plan, and created designs for exhibit posters and a catalog. This work ensures a smooth transition between exhibits for our small offseason team. 
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This is the video Charlotte produced for her Young Scholars requirement.
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