An internship with Three Rivers Park District is an in-depth, supervised, practical work experience. It is an opportunity for students to use and test knowledge developed in a formal educational program to gain first-hand work experience in a professional setting.

Locations

• Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement, Baker Park Reserve, Medina
• Eastman Nature Center, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Dayton
• Lowry Nature Center, Carver Park Reserve, Victoria
• Richardson Nature Center, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Bloomington
• French Regional Park, Plymouth (recreation staff)
• Gale Woods, Minnetrista

Purpose

• To expand Three Rivers Park District's ability to serve clientele through the contributions of the intern
• To provide Three Rivers Park District with temporary, qualified, and capable assistance in various program and service areas
• To provide opportunities for Three Rivers Park District to recruit and evaluate potential future employees
• To provide opportunities for Three Rivers Park District to contribute to the quality of professional leadership in the parks and recreation profession
• To assist staff with new ideas coming out of post-secondary education institutions

Eligibility

Applications for internships will be considered from junior, senior or graduate students from accredited colleges or universities. Internship applications will be accepted from students studying in the fields including, but not limited to, parks and recreation administration, outdoor education, curriculum and instruction, experiential education, biological sciences, journalism and communications. The length of an internship is 12 weeks in the summer and 16 weeks during the school year (30-40 hours/week). Internship requests will be accepted from out-of-state as well as Minnesota residents.

Opportunities

An outdoor education intern will be able to be involved in all or several of the following:

• Developing and teaching environmental education to school groups
• Training sessions in curriculum and teaching techniques
• Volunteer recruitment and training
• Intern project (each site will have a list of potential projects)
• Animal care of raptors, amphibians and reptiles, and bird feeders
• Evaluation of programs
• Assisting Naturalist with weekend programs
• Staff meetings and district-wide special event meetings and/or all-district outdoor education meetings
• Writing interpretive articles for volunteer newsletter
• Site enhancement projects (e.g., buckthorn removal, wildflower or tree plantings, trail up-keep)
• Park rule enforcement
• Naturalist/teacher meetings

Application Process
Call Richardson Nature Center at 763/694-7677 to speak to the Intern Coordinator.
Mail all the required forms below to: Internship Coordinator, Richardson Nature Center, 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN 55438.

Letter of interest Current resume Internship application Supplementary question sheet Skills and interest inventory and proficiency record Reference form - applicant must have two people fill this out.

Selection

When the application and two references are received, the Internship Coordinator will call the potential intern for an interview. The interview will be with the Intern Coordinator. You also will be sent a note if you are not selected. Interns will be selected a minimum of three months before the starting date of internship.

Start and End Dates

• September through mid-December
• February through May
• June through August

Individualized Internship Program Design

• Naturalist Intern Coordinator will work with the student to individualize an internship program.
• Specific internship responsibilities will be dependent upon student's goals, objectives, background and skills and the center's needs.
• Three Rivers Park District Outdoor Education's main focus is working with school-age children.
• Maintain a journal.
• List goals for each week.

• WELCOME, Meet Intern Coordinator and other Naturalist staff
• Orientation to Three Rivers Park District
• Expectations of Interns
• Review Goals
• Tour Three Rivers Park District Headquarters
• Introduced to On-site Naturalist Mentor

• Welcome at specific internship location by Naturalist Mentor
• Introduction to staff, volunteers, facility and a tour of the park.
• Review goals, responsibilities including project - develop a work plan/schedule
• Set up workspace
• Write goals for the remainder of the week and circulate to staff (continue this weekly)

• Assist staff person and learn daily job tasks (e.g., filling bird feeders, animal care, checking appearance of displays, etc.)
• Review volunteer manual, Three Rivers Park District's Park's video, and nature center's curriculum.
• Observe school group program (if a group is scheduled)

• Assist staff person with daily job tasks
• Observe school group program
• Continue to review curriculum, library, files and submit special project plan from a list of nature center needs (e.g., slide show, photography, exploration kit design, exhibit, natural resource project, exotic species removal, self-guided trail, create a costume/prop to enhance a program)
• Familiarize self with trails

• Daily job tasks on your own
• Observe school group program
• Look through center's equipment with staff person
• Work on project outline

• Daily job tasks on your own
• Observe/assist with school group program
• Continue to review nature center's curriculum and files.
• Work on project
• Meet with Naturalist Mentor and review first five days

• Daily job tasks on your own
• Lead outside activity of school group with assistance from a staff person, allow time for feedback at end of program
• One - two hours with receptionist (answer phones, observe registration and sales)
• Continue work on project and set goals each week (circulate to all staff)

• Daily job tasks on your own.
• Lead introduction to school group program inside and outside activity with assistance from staff and eventually on your own
• Off-site full-day visit to center of your choice
• Continue to work on project; share progress on project with Naturalist Mentor

• Daily job tasks on your own and weekly goal setting
• Lead school group programs and receive a written evaluation
• Work on and receive feedback on constructing your résumé
• Meet with staff to discuss and learn interview techniques
• Participate in curriculum and/or teaching technique training sessions with other volunteers and staff
• Continue to work on project--present draft of project to Naturalist Mentor, make changes and submit/present final project, receive feedback from staff
• Meet with Naturalist Mentor and school representative
• Work with Naturalist staff at Visitor Centers once or twice each month
• Intern Coordinator will organize a gathering of other Three Rivers Park District Interns mid-term to share experiences

• Park Police
• Three Rivers Park District Recreation Staff
• Other Three Rivers Park District Nature Centers and/or Visitor Centers
• Park Maintenance Staff
• Natural Resource Managers
• Staff at Three Rivers Park District Crow-Hassan Nursery
• Other Metro Area Nature Centers
• Other- Your Choice

Last Day of Internship

• Meet with Nature Center Supervisor and Naturalist Mentor for evaluation
• Fill out your own evaluation of internship and submit to Supervisor
• Supervisor will sign any necessary papers
• Meet with school representative

Responsibilities

• Intern
  • Develop a statement of goals and objectives for your internship.
  • After a consultation with nature center supervisor and naturalist intern coordinator, develop a general work plan for the duration of the internship.
  • Develop and submit weekly work plans to naturalist mentor who will share with supervisor and staff and keep on file.
  • Perform, in a professional manner, as would be expected of an employee of Three Rivers Park District.
  • Dress appropriately for work assignment, as suggested by supervisor.
  • Wear Three Rivers Park District name tag whenever on duty.
  • Keep a Three Rivers Park District temporary parking pass on the driver's side dashboard until a permanent annual sticker is given.
  • Submit to the nature center supervisor an evaluation of your internship experience.
  • Work a minimum of 30 hours per week, which may include weekdays, weekends and/or evenings.
    
    
• Three Rivers Park District
  • Provide a thorough orientation to Three Rivers Park District
  • Provide supervision and direction for the intern
  • Set clear and reasonable duties and responsibilities in accordance with mutually agreed upon goals and objectives
  • Monitor and evaluate the student's performance on an ongoing basis throughout the experience
  • Complete oral and written evaluations of the student's job performance
  • Assist in preparation of résumé and interview skills
    
    
• Educational Institutions
• Provide the nature center with a complete description of the school's internship program and its expectations of the supervisor.
• A school representative must visit with the student and supervisor at least once, preferably twice, during the internship (by phone or in person).
• Review and approve the student's goals, objectives and work plan.

Intern Benefits

• Internship Stipend: Check with Intern Coordinator on availability.
• Professional development: Where possible, individual will be allowed and encouraged to attend outside, related professional association meeting with staff and supervisors. (Conference expenses are not normally covered by Three Rivers Park District.)
• Mileage Reimbursement: Interns are eligible for a mileage reimbursement for mileage accrued that directly related to travel required by the intern coordinator for personal travel.
• Insurance: Liability - Three Rivers Park District provides liability protection for interns on court actions arising out of alleged acts of omission occurring within the scope of the individual's assigned official duties, except where court action arises from ignorance of laws, malfeasance, willful or wanton neglect of duty or criminal negligence. Vehicle - Interns are covered by Three Rivers Park District's vehicle insurance policy as drivers of official district vehicles on assigned duty. The individual must watch the Park District's defensive driving videotapes and take a written test before driving Three Rivers Park District vehicles.
• Housing: Check with Intern Coordinator on the possibility of housing.
  

Internship Application
Supplementary Questions
Skills and Interest Inventory and Proficiency Record
Reference Form
Internship Main Page
Outdoor Education main page