I really enjoyed the atmosphere and location, it's a beautiful park. My supervisors were fantastic and really made the whole seasonal team feel welcome and supported in the workplace.
What I wish was different
I wish there was a housing option available much, much closer to the park. I had a pretty brutal 40-60 minute commute each way, but this wasn't the fault of my supervisors as there was some legal confusion out of the DNR headquarters in Des Moines that limited park-owned housing.
Advice
Be flexible with your program plans and always have a backup plan, the weather can change quickly and your 4 mile outdoor hike can turn into trudging through mud with a disgruntled Boy Scouts troop if you don't have a backup activity.
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Forestry/Ecosystem Management Aide
May - August 2019 • Solon, IA
What I liked
Independence, being outdoors
What I wish was different
More direction from boss, variety of tasks
Advice
Try to learn as much as you can about natural resource management from those who have been there longer
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Natural Resource Aid
May - August 2019 • Milford, IA
What I liked
The people are very fun to work with and the general atmosphere is laid back and fun.
What I wish was different
Honestly, it was all great.
Advice
Be open minded and ready to do some work, but also have fun with it.
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Fisheries Management Tech
May - August 2019 • Lewis, IA
What I liked
Everything
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Strive for yourself not others.
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Naturalist
May - August 2019 • Wapello, IA
What I liked
I enjoyed working in the field, as well as the law enforcement aspects of this job. It allowed me to cultivate experience with ecology, parks management, and program coordination.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had had more time with the department in order to grow the initiatives that I started.
Advice
This job requires you to step out of your comfort zone and be flexible in a position of authority.
