Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: INHF Interns Go Beyond the Job

Joe McGovern/INHF

Allison Griffin, an indoor intern, learns to harvest prairie seeds during a field trip to Snyder Heritage Farm, an INHF property in Polk County. “I learned how to communicate the natural beauty Iowa has to offer,” Griffin said.

Because staff and internship funders believe the internship should teach more than job skills, interns get training and field trips outside their regular duties. Interns meet with each staff member to learn about their slice of the mission—from fundraising and environmental policy to landowner negotiations and prairie management. Interns also attend staff and board meetings and participate in occasional conferences and seminars.

Office interns take at least one field trip per semester. Past experiences include canoeing at the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, harvesting prairie seeds and taking a guided hike through an oak savanna.

Many past interns have noted that working for the Foundation was a life-changing opportunity. “INHF was my first experience working for a non-profit. It definitely opened my eyes to the various capacities one can work within a field and exposed me to the road less traveled,” said Leah Marr, a former graphic design intern. “I also gained great web design experience and photo editing skills through my internship there. I think what left the biggest impact on me was the dedication and passion that everyone had for their job.”

Andrea L. Zimmerman is a Drake University student and a Robert R. Buckmaster Intern at INHF.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.

INHF Interns go beyond the job