Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Naturalist Corps Intern

May - August 2023 • Saint Paul, MN

What I liked

I liked the people I worked with. They were all very passionate about their jobs. The atmosphere was also very casual and supportive, so it was nice to chat with them and it wasn't to intimidating to ask for help. Overall, it was a really good opportunity to learn about a lot of different things and was definitely a good experience for me as I just start my career in this field.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had gotten more support from the beginning to set me up for success farther down the line. There were some extenuating circumstances where my supervisor wasn't available for a while, so wasn't able to receive as much support or feedback. The environment could also be chaotic at times.

Advice

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Outdoor Recreation Intern

May - August 2023 • Saint Paul, MN

What I liked

I loved getting to experience a job that provides both an office experience as well as field work,

What I wish was different

Advice

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ECS Intern

June - August 2021 • Grand Rapids, MN

What I liked

I liked the location where I worked. I liked the people I worked with and for. I got to travel all over the state to see different scenery and work in different conditions. I also liked the experience I got.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

That this internship was a great internship and would encourage anyone to try it.

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Aqautic Invasive Species Intern

May - August 2019 • Park Rapids, MN

What I liked

I liked that it was outdoors and a very hands on job. I also liked that they worked with other departments such as fisheries and wildlife so I could gain experience in those fields as well.

What I wish was different

I wish it was a longer internship.

Advice

Don't be afraid to ask questions or try new things. This is a great opportunity to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible.

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Naturalist Corp Intern

May - September 2018 • Carlton, MN

What I liked

I had excellent direction from the full-time naturalists and was able to create my own programs based on my interests.

What I wish was different

I wish I received connections from them on future employment opportunities within the department.

Advice

Using your extra time and all available resources helps to make the most of your experience - get creative with what you do.

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Fisheries Intern

May - August 2019 • Brainerd, MN

What I liked

I loved being outdoors and doing field work all summer long. I worked with great supervisors and peers as well. Every day was somewhat different, it was a great experience.

What I wish was different

Nothing, honestly.

Advice

If going out of state or away from home, look for housing as soon as possible. I looked from January, when I got the position, until middle of April. Many people that I contacted either fell through or didn’t contact me back, and it was probably the most stressful thing about the internship, just finding a place to live.

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Fisheries Intern

May - August 2019 • Shakopee, MN

What I liked

I loved being outside every day and learning more about fisheries management. Working with a team was also a wonderful experience.

What I wish was different

At times it was difficult working with so many dead fish.

Advice

I think it is extremely important to try a job in the field rather than just learning about a topic over powerpoint. You learn so much more learning though experience.

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MinnAqua Intern

May - September 2018 • Saint Paul, MN

What I liked

Amazing experience with friendly people and a very educational program.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have spent more time at this internship.

Advice

Always be willing to learn from others!

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Seasonal Mussel Survey and Lab Technician

May - October 2017 • Lake City, MN

What I liked

I really enjoyed how a lot of the work I did was split between working in a lab and doing field work in rivers and lakes as well as working with a range of people as well as other interns.

What I wish was different

Not much to say here, but perhaps something the higher ups could have done was making sure that the interns split work equally.

Advice

Get scuba certified if you are looking for a position like this, it can be helpful and in this case necessary. Also, be willing to do a lot of hard work and be flexible and don't be afraid to ask if their is something you can do if it gets slow.

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Naturalist Corps Intern

May - September 2018 • Carlton, MN

What I liked

There was so much to like about working as a Naturalist. I created programs for the public and community groups, which allowed me to learn more about my interests and work with people of diverse backgrounds. The tasks and responsibilies given to me, as well as working closely with the full-time naturalists made me feel like a valuable part of the state park.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have known going in that I would have a lot of free time to create my own personal projects.

Advice

Be open to new topics and areas of study - I am not a fish person but I had to be for this position, and now I have a lot of knowledge and skill in the area that has been helpful to me in the rest of my college coursework. Also, don't be afraid to dive into your own intersts and get creative by applying your own unquie talents to the job.

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