Welcome new FMR staff and interns!
Spring is here and several new people have joined the FMR team to help us get outside and get event and stenciling season started! Meet our new Program Assistant Erika Guenther and Restoration and Education Events Interns Cat Wiechmann and Jeremy Aarons. Each brings a good deal of experience and passion to their roles and were excited to have them on board!
Welcome Erika Guenther!
Erika Guenther
As FMRs new program assistant, Erika will be coordinating the storm drain stenciling education program and assisting with many FMR events and volunteer programs.
A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, Erika earned a B.S. in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, along with three minors in environmental sciences, policy and management; business management; and biology.
A busy academic schedule didnt keep Erika from getting in some valuable work experience along the way. Erika has held a number of teaching and environmental education positions. Over the winter she interned at Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul and she is working part-time at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley through mid-May.
Welcome Jeremy Aaron
Jeremy Aaron
With an environmental studies degree from St. Olaf under his belt, Habitat Restoration and Education Events Intern Jeremy Aarons has previously worked with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and volunteered for wetlands education programs.
Currently, Jeremy works full-time with the Home Energy Squad, quickly assessing a homes efficiency then installing efficiency-boosting products. Devoted to making the most efficient use of his time, Jeremy carves out eight to 12 hours a week to help out at FMR, assisting with outreach for events as well as maintaining FMRs online photo albums.
Welcome Cat Wiechmann!
Cat Wiechmann
Before deciding to intern with FMR, Catherine Wiechmann already had a great deal of interesting environmental education and research experience. Catherine, or Cat, earned her B.S. in biology and environmental studies from Gustavas Adolphus in 2009 and has worked with McCall Outdoor Science School in Idaho, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Minnesota and Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center in Costa Rica. She has designed environmental education programs, worked with raptors and assisted with bird research, and interned with the Sustainable Farm Association (which she remains active with today).
Cat is excited about the chance to bring together so many of her different talents and interests to benefit FMRs restoration and education programming and were excited to have her help before she heads to graduate school this fall.