We look forward to following their career paths!
In the last week of August, staff gathered for lunch with the Summer Intern Crew to hear about their learning adventure in land management and habitat restoration and to thank them for all they did to build the climate resilience of the Driftless Area this summer. You can read what they had to say below. We wish them the very best!
This internship contributed to the best summer I’ve had. I had so much fun working with and getting to know my crew. It really wouldn’t have been the same without them. I knew what I wanted to do for a career coming in but this internship shaped what I want a team to be like. I appreciate everyone I worked with this summer and will miss them. ~ Alex Stone
Interning at MVC has helped prepare me for a career in conservation. On top of learning about land management practices and plant identification through hands-on experiences, I’m walking away with great friends and an even greater appreciation for the Driftless region. ~ Danielle Hudson
My experience during this summer internship was very positive. I had a great time meeting and working with the crews, the time we spent together made even the hottest of days fun. I learned a lot about land management practices and plant identification, and I am now much more experienced in the field as a whole. I was greatly impacted by all of the knowledge and practices I have learned and how I can use these techniques in my future endeavors in land management. I have greatly appreciated the opportunity that I was given as a crew leader for MVC and I hope to continue my career in ecological restoration to the best of my ability using all that I have learned this summer. ~ Ian McGuigan
I spent my summer working with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy as part of an Individual Placement Program through WisCorps. Throughout this internship I gained valuable insight on conservation efforts within the driftless and was given the opportunity to apply many of those efforts within different properties and sites throughout southwest Wisconsin. This internship allowed me to grow in a way that will impact my future career and personal growth as I was given the opportunity to learn new things each day. The hands-on field experience that MVC provides is exceptional and will definitely assist me as I go on to pursue an environmentally oriented career. ~ Jaylen Vinney
This internship was my first experience working in the land management/conservation field and I am grateful for all of the amazing people I got to work with every day as well as the beautiful areas we were able to help restore and preserve in the Driftless Area. The new skills I have learned will play a big role in my journey to having a career in wildlife biology. With all of the great experiences MVC gave me, I have solidified my decision to continue this career path to preserve and protect the beautiful land around us. I am very glad that I got to spend summer with cool people doing what we all love, and I would recommend this internship to anyone looking to get into the wildlife biology/conservation field! ~ Pressley Hasse
This internship was everything I expected and more. I had an absolute blast this summer. I learned so many new skills, from learning to chainsaw, to speaking with landowners, that will absolutely help me in my future career. I made lasting friendships and connections that were built through shared passions of caring for our environment. I am very grateful I was able to have the opportunity to work for Mississippi Valley Conservancy. It strengthened my yearning to pursue a career in land conservation, specifically at a land trust near the Driftless Region. The Driftless Region is a such unique and beautiful area, something I didn't realize I took for granted growing up until I moved away to college. I would recommend this internship to anyone interested in land conservation and working hard to protect this beautiful area! ~ Riley Hubanks
I was fortunate enough to crew lead the intern crew for MVC this Summer and I could not have had a better season! I learned so much about the driftless region and its ecology. I learned a lot more about current conservation practices and how important it is to protect hill prairies. At the same time I was learning all of these things, I was working alongside other young people that were as excited about the outdoors as I am and it felt so special. It’s been so great being able to work for MVC this Summer and I thank them for giving me the opportunity. ~ Ryan Reed
This summer I was given the opportunity to work for Mississippi Valley Conservancy. It was a perfect opportunity for me to learn about ecosystems and conservation practices while working directly with them. I couldn’t have imagined how much I would end up learning and the amount of fun I had doing so. Working with a crew helps bring people together and have each others back. The internship has been extremely valuable for me and I am grateful to have had this opportunity. ~ Shawn Wichelt
If you know somebody who might be interested in an internship with Mississippi Valley Conservancy, please encourage them to learn more here.