My experience at the Huron River Watershed Council was amazing! I learned so many new things and met so many wonderful people. Some of the things that we experienced were Aquatic Chemical Analysis and Chemetrical Flow (if you love chemistry), STEM education to K-12 kids (if you love teaching), Mapping and Measuring (if you love fieldwork & working as a team in the water). We also got to conduct mussel and benthic macroinvertebrate surveying. If you are or know anyone who needs field work experience then you are in the right place. The internship is very hands-on and a great way to meet peers in your field. The schedule is very flexible and everyone is accommodating. I highly recommend this internship.
What I wish was different
I would have talked to more of the employees and staff at HRWC. They all have a very diverse set of backgrounds. Whatever you are interested in pertaining to environmental science, there is someone who has a background in that area or can connect you with another person.
Advice
Get to know everyone, that is one of the advantages of this type of internship. Jason Frenzel (Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator) is very kind and wants to see young people in this field succeed. He always wants more people to volunteer. Talk to people at HRWC about your interests and then they can put you on tasks and projects that will help build your resume and develop your skills.
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Field Intern
May - August 2018 • Ann Arbor, MI
What I liked
It was a very fun internship that taught me a lot about being in the field. We took samples and made maps all summer long.
What I wish was different
I wish there was more testing of the samples that were collected.
Advice
I think this is one of the best things you could do if you are thinking about an environmental job with water or any kind of field work.
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Huron River Water Trail Intern
May - August 2018 • Ann Arbor, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed being completely involved with the work being done. Felt more like a full time job and less like an internship. Being able to experience things like field work, setting sign markers, creating surveys and helping with events was amazing!
What I wish was different
A little less office work and more experiencing of the Water Trail.
Advice
Never hesitate to ask specific questions and always give your best! It never hurts to try and there are no wrong questions. It might be something new that you're going into and it's good to learn about it.
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Aquatic Field Intern
April - August 2018 • Ann Arbor, MI
What I liked
I really enjoyed having the ability to work outdoors all summer. All of my superiors were very friendly and encouraging.
What I wish was different
I wish the intern program was more organized in terms of carpooling and attendance. Sometimes there weren’t enough cars to transport everyone so people had to stay behind.
Advice
Keep a journal and write everything down! Things you notice about the organization/company, information you’re learning about, and ideas. Also, reach out to your superiors and exchange information. Become friendly with them.
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Aquati field intern
May - August 2018 • Ann Arbor, MI
What I liked
All the interns got close from working with each other and our supervisors were wonderful.
What I wish was different
Better planning prior to outings.
Advice
Don't be afraid to step up respectfully take charge if you need to.
