Thank you to our autumn interns

Joe and Anna celebrate at FMRs holiday open house.

FMR has been fortunate to have two wonderful interns working with us during their fall semester. Anna Peschel, a senior at Macalester College, has been working on a variety of projects including assisting with planning and coordination of stewardship and interpretive events, and replenishing and updating the collection of handouts FMR offers to workshop participants. Joe Dietel, a junior at the University of Saint Thomas, has also been assisting with stewardship and interpretive events, as well as surveying volunteers about their experiences with FMR.

Anna is majoring in Environmental Studies with a Biology focus and her internship is part of her Environmental Practicum. Anna started working with FMR as a volunteer during the summer doing site management at Hastings River Flats Park, where she learned to identify many plant species, both native and exotic. Once she began her internship, Anna continued to build on this knowledge at events where she removed invasive species like spotted knapweed and buckthorn, collected native plant seed, sorted the seed, and then later distributed it at restoration sites.

Anna said her favorite part of being an FMR intern was attending events and being outside during the fall colors, as well as the friendly and fun FMR staff. She especially liked getting to broadcast seed at Pine Bend Scientific and Natural Area and the Rosemount Preserve. As for what the future holds for her, she says she is mostly undecided because there are too many things that I want to do! However, she does know she would like to do something combining environmental living and public health.

Joe Dietel, who is studying Environmental Studies and Justice and Peace Studies, interned with FMR as part of the HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) Environmental Sustainability program. In addition to helping out at stewardship and interpretive events, Joes main project was to conduct a survey of Gorge Stewards and Vermillion Stewards volunteers to evaluate their experience volunteering with FMR. This information will help FMR improve events and ensure that we are offering high quality experiences to volunteers.

Joes favorite part of the internship experience was attending events, especially the Oak Savanna Workdays. He said that working at a place more than once really made him feel connected to it, and that Carolyn Carr [the ecologist who leads the workdays] is really awesome! Joes looking forward to taking upper level classes in his majors, like a Conflict Resolution course this spring. He also plans on doing more environmental work, and continuing to volunteer with FMR. His long-term goal is to continue working for social justice as well as relating the environment as a social issue.

Anna and Joe both brought a wonderful energy and spirit to FMR, and were sure they will continue making a positive impact wherever they go. Thanks, Anna and Joe, for all your hard work.