MN Conservation Internship

Anticipated Start Date: Mid-May 2024

Anticipated End Date:  Late August 2024

Internship Description:  Get your boots wet and your hands a little dirty in this 90-day summer internship with Pheasants Forever in partnership with NRCS.  This internship is designed to teach the aspiring wildlife professional about a career in natural resources.  The internship will focus on the field portion of USDA’s farm bill related conservation practices.  Your direct supervision will come from Pheasants Forever, in partnership with NRCS.  Your supervisor will spend two to three weeks teaching you the ins and outs of plant identification, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) standards and practices, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) standards and practices.  You will then take what you learned and put it into practice while traveling between counties within your work area inventorying plants, and evaluating the resources to ensure the intent of the practices are being followed by the private landowners. 

When you are not in the field, you will spend your time at training events led by other resource professionals.  You will assist other resource professionals put on training events.  Even though you won’t have a speaking role, you will be vital in helping at registration desks and helping to set-up and tear-down when the events are over. 

When in the office, you will assist Pheasants Forever and NRCS staff with field work follow-up projects like application submittals, status review documentation, and documenting action items for conservation practices. 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Grass, forb, and shrub identification of Minnesota, or the ability to quickly learn the 20 most common species found on conservation plantings.
• Interest in habitat outreach events and the ability to communicate habitat management practices with the public.
• Willingness to learn all aspects of habitat related practices, soil health practices, grazing practices and other agriculture related topics.
• The ability to effectively communicate with landowners and the public.
• The ability to walk several miles through uneven terrain and vegetation while carrying GPS equipment and monitoring vegetation and habitat.  Some conditions will include walking through 3’ to 8’ tall vegetation, mosquitos, gnats, and poison ivy.  Other conditions will be remnant prairies on a beautiful 80-degree summer day.
• The ability to work with co-workers handling survey equipment and inventorying resource concerns.
• Experience working with contractors to convey ideas relating engineering plans.
• Able to obtain USDA Federal Security Clearance.

Job Locations:

Alexandria, Benson, Caledonia, Dodge Center, Madison, Mankato, and Worthington are key areas where the intern will be located.  This internship will involve travel within 60 miles of these central office locations.  Travel will occur in USDA vehicles and some personal vehicle use will be needed (mileage reimbursement provided).  The intern’s home USDA office can be negotiable based within 20 miles of the key cities listed at the beginning of this paragraph.

Starting Salary: $15 to $18.50 per hour, commensurate with experience. 30 to 40 hours per week. Eligible for mileage reimbursement, tech stipend, MN Safe & Sick Leave (Minnesota employees will earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked).