Thanks to our 2026 summer field ecology interns!
Anna and Jayden, our summer field ecology interns, helped restore and manage conservation sites, and monitored wildlife.
Our internship program helps us support the next generation of environmental leaders as they build their careers. This summer, Vegetation Monitoring and Management Intern Anna Hoppe and Wildlife Ecology Intern Jayden Peterson worked with our Land Conservation team.
Learn more about these interns and the efforts they made possible.
Anna's habitat restoration and management work
Anna brought her outstanding vegetation and wildlife identification skills to her work surveying and conducting management at FMR restoration sites. Anna contributed to multiple natural resource management plans, trained and worked alongside countless volunteers, and managed many non-native species along the river.
Anna's curiosity and passion for the outdoors is off the charts! She is exceptional at identifying plants, animals and insects in the field. It's extremely helpful to have someone with her skills and interests alongside us when documenting biodiversity at our restoration sites.
Anna's reflections
"I really loved being able to use my knowledge about Minnesota plants and wildlife every day on the job! It was also such a gift to be able to visit so many unexplored landscapes throughout the metro and beyond, and see all the biodiversity we have here — so much more than I could’ve imagined. I learned a lot about all different kinds of survey techniques, not only for vegetation but for birds and pollinators too! I was also able to co-lead some volunteer events, which was also super fun. The staff I worked with were so awesome, and it was clear they held the same passion I do for the natural world."
"Currently, I’m in the process of looking for full-time jobs that are similar to what I did with FMR. I hope to find something either in consulting, environmental education or research. I am also thinking about grad school, specifically for ecology, but nothing's set in stone yet…"
Jayden's pollinator and bird monitoring
Jayden brought her pollinator knowledge and experience to the Land Conservation team. She surveyed FMR restoration sites for pollinators and birds, and led FMR's first year of bumble bee nest surveys. Jayden helped manage FMR's Pollinator Evaluation Program and wildlife camera monitoring programs, training volunteers and managing data. Jayden's work connected communities to habitat along the river and will provide valuable data and insight into pollinator and wildlife use of FMR restoration sites, helping guide our management of these natural areas and contributing to broader habitat and species conservation efforts.
Jayden impressed us with her skills, positive attitude and curiosity. She was always a joy to work with in the field. Her insightful biological observations, love and knowledge of bees, and flexibility in the field made her a valuable and positive addition to our team.
Jayden's reflections
"When I first moved to Minnesota, FMR was one of the first organizations I learned about, and it was a dream to work here, so having the opportunity to intern here was something I never thought would happen. I was most excited about learning another aspect of conservation through a nonprofit lens. Learning more about pollinators, the efforts that it takes to manage and maintain data, and the importance of the data we found was something that kept me engaged during the entirety of my internship. Being outdoors and immersing myself in the sites that FMR manages was one of the most exciting things I did during my internship, along with finding rusty-patched bumble bees at sites where they had never been recorded before! All of the opportunities I had throughout my internship made me feel excited to continue my journey in the conservation world and helped me discover new interests I didn't think I would have."
"I am still in the market for a full-time job where I can bring my passions to life, and I am hopeful that an opportunity will arise soon. I will continue to pursue a career in conservation and hopefully will end up somewhere working with pollinators!"
FMR's career pathways program
As part of our career pathways program, we've expanded our capacity for hosting paid opportunities for youth and young people. Learn more about internships and Environmental Stewardship Institute openings.