Building experience and ensuring success
Internships are a great way to:
- apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to real world situations;
- explore what a given profession entails and test out a possible career direction;
- gain practical experience in the working world, which is valuable to add to one’s resume to help be more marketable for future jobs;
- figure out what additional course material would help prepare for the job market after graduating.
Students may arrange internship opportunities on their own, or speak with EEGS faculty for suggestions of agencies that might have internships available. Career Services on campus has many tips and tools to begin the internship or job search. Check out their internships page. The bulletin board outside the EEGS Department in 3001 Weston Hall also has a clipboard of internship announcements. Students majoring in the EEGS Department can request access to an online database of jobs, internships, graduate school opportunities, and career information by emailing eegs@nmu.edu.
Procedure for Earning Internship Credit
- After identifying an internship supervisor at a particular agency and determining whether the experience will be paid or unpaid, contact Jana Nicholls, Principal Administrative Assistant of the EEGS Department. Speak with Jana in person in 3001 Weston Hall, or contact her at 906-227-2500 or janprice@nmu.edu.
- Be sure to tell Jana the following:
- your name;
- your NMU IN;
- the name of the agency or company where you will intern;
- the name, email address, and phone number of your internship supervisor;
- whether the internship will be paid or unpaid;
- how many credits (a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6) you wish to earn, where each credit requires 40 hours of time dedicated to the internship.
- Jana will email you and your supervisor the forms that are needed to register for GC 491. Be proactive in helping ensure that you and your supervisor complete the paperwork and return it to Jana in a timely fashion.
- Students must be registered for GC 491 before logging hours for the internship, and tuition must be paid to earn credit for GC 491.
- Keep a log of each of the dates worked on the internship, how many hours were spent, and what activities were completed each day. This record is important to indicate that sufficient hours were completed to earn the credits.
- At the end of the internship period, write a one- or two-page reflection paper to describe what you did and learned, what you took away from the process, how it helped you prepare and plan for the future, and what aspects of the internship you are grateful to have experienced.
- Complete a form evaluating the experience. Make sure your supervisor completes a similar evaluation form.
- Submit the following to Jana at janprice@nmu.edu by the deadline that she specifies:
- your log of hours/activities;
- your reflection paper;
- your personal evaluation form;
- the supervisor's evaluation form (typically the supervisor emails it directly to Jana).
- Thank your internship supervisor for their time and the opportunity.
Previous GC 491 internships completed by NMU students
Internships help students apply what they have learned in the classroom, explore what a given profession entails, and gain practical experience that is increasingly important for securing a job after graduation. EEGS students may register for 2 to 6 credits of GC 491 Internship to have the experience included on their NMU transcript.
Some of the companies and agencies where EEGS students have completed hands-on internships for GC 491 credit include the following:
- Alger Conservation District—watershed intern
- BAE Industries, Inc.—ISO 14001 system auditor
- Borden Dairy—sustainability intern
- Ceiba Foundation—GIS assistant for Reforestation Project in Ecuador
- Citizens' Climate Lobby
- City of Marquette—GIS assistant
- Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)—Mapping and Records Department intern
- Genesee Conservation District
- Great Lakes Climate Corps—crew member; crew leader
- Guardians of Honor (NASA contractor)—GIS intern
- Eagle Mine—water treatment intern
- Eaton County Resource Recovery Department—resource recovery intern
- Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - wildlife biology technician
- Holland Engineering—environmental field assistant
- Huron River Watershed Council—field intern
- Iowa Lakeside Lab—assistant with numerous scientific projects
- International Volunteer HQ—turtle conservation volunteer in Costa Rica
- Isle Royale National Park—camping impacts monitoring intern
- Marquette Alternative High School—garden educator
- Marquette Board of Light and Power—GIS/Distribution Engineering Intern
- Marquette Charter Township—assistant with drafting non-motorized transportation plan
- Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force
- Marquette County Equalization Department—GIS assistant
- Marquette County Planning Department—planning assistant
- Marquette Conservation District—conservation intern
- Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority—various internship opportunities
- Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate through Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy—community resilience intern
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division
- Michigan Energy Options
- Michigan Environmental Council
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources—aquatic invasive species educator
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation—wildland firefighting
- NASA Langley Research Center—monitoring near-surface solar radiation and aerosols
- NMU EcoReps—various positions
- NOAA-National Weather Service—student volunteer intern
- Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy (formerly North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy)
- Road Commission for Oakland County, Michigan
- Ottawa County Parks and Recreation
- Ottawa County GIS Department—GIS intern
- Paces AI, Inc.—GIS intern
- Partridge Creek Farm—various intern positions
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore—park guide
- Progressive Companies—water resource management
- River Country Chamber of Commerce of Newaygo County—trail review for Michigan Great Outdoors project
- Rocky Mountain Conservancy—historic structure stabilization, restoration, trail maintenance
- Sanilac Conservation District—conservation intern
- Save the Wild U.P.—various internships
- Seaside Sustainability
- Sierra Club
- Seney National Wildlife Refuge—visitor services intern
- Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage—assistant at FolkLife Festival and educator about cross-cultural exchanges related to food systems
- Spring Meadow Nursery—plant/soil identification
- Superior Invasive Plant Solutions, LLC
- Superior Watershed Partnership—various internships including for Energy Conservation Corps, technical writing, ecosystem restoration
- The Nature Conservancy—preserve steward; GIS and data analysts to study vegetation change
- Travel Marquette—mapping and research internships
- TriMedia Environmental & Engineering Services, LLC—environmental fieldwork
- Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center—environmental programming
- Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy—Great Lakes Piping Plover monitor
- Upper Peninsula Power Company—GIS support
- United States Forest Service—forestry intern
- Valley Stewardship Network—sustainability of Alaska's salmon fisheries intern
- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps—crew member
- Wisconsin Conservation Corps—crew member
Internship Testimonials
Christina Andrews, Huron Pines
[In the summer of 2023,] I had the opportunity to work with Huron Pines, a non-profit organization that focuses on invasive plant control and native habitat restoration. As a restoration technician, I spent every day out in the field actively treating invasive plants using herbicides and mechanical methods of removal along with surveying for threatened and endangered native plants. Over the course of the summer we worked with other organizations including the DNR and Fish and Wildlife Services to maintain the health of local ecosystems. This internship provided me with valuable field skills and allowed me to better understand how different organizations come together to coordinate and implement restoration efforts.
Jackson Fowler, Great Lakes Climate Corps
"I served on the Ottawa Trails Crew for the Great Lakes Climate Corps. One valuable aspect of the internship was working alongside the U.S. Forest Service every week. I learned a great deal about trails, tools, and the National Forest, but I learned most from my crew members. Spending the summer with the GLCC gave me a great appreciation for how deeply connected everything is in the forest, and how there is a gravitating oneness to all living things."
Emilee Gooch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
"I had the incredible opportunity to work as a Wildlife Biology Technician for a summer at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. In this role, I gained invaluable field skills through working with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and participating in plover surveys, fish population monitoring, water quality sampling, and sandhill crane banding. With the Friends of Malheur NWR program, I worked outreach events such as Science for Kids programs at the local library, giving me the chance to connect with the public and partake in environmental education. This position greatly increased my confidence in applying my classroom knowledge to real-world research and made me even more excited about my chosen field!"
Elizabeth Hoffman, NASA Langley Research Center
“I got to meet and talk with a variety of people at NASA Langley—employees and fellow interns—and all were enthusiastic to geek out with us….My mentors were easy to talk to, made sure I understood what my tasks were, and were available whenever I needed them. The other interns inspired me and we discussed our different assignments. It gave me more self-confidence and assured me that I want to become a scientist.”
Mary Kelly, U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
"Since May of 2022, I have worked as a Pathways Student Trainee (intern) for the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in their Environmental Science and Engineering Division. While Volpe is located in Cambridge, MA, I worked remotely due to longstanding COVID policies. During my internship, I supported three different federal projects - the National Parks Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) program, the Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) infrastructure compliance program, and the FHWA NEPA Assignment program for the state of Ohio. I worked alongside Environmental Protection Specialists, Engineers, and Community Planners to complete a variety of NEPA compliance and GIS tasks. Some of my duties included generating 508-compliant alternative text, working with a team to code 5,000+ public comments on the draft ATMPs and Environmental Assessments (EAs), creating the ATMP Administrative Record, managing databases, and creating maps for fuel storage tank fieldwork. My internship with Volpe has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences thus far in my career. Not only has it cemented my passion for public service, but it’s also opened my eyes to a variety of transportation-related projects. Everyone at Volpe (and DOT), from junior-level staff to senior- and cabinet-level leadership made sure that the interns were treated as valued members of the team. I would encourage anyone looking to gain experience in the federal government to apply to the Pathways program. General information about the program can be found here, and folks interested in Volpe can learn more here."
Jayde Schoolcraft, NASA Langley Research Center
"I was lucky enough to spend my 2022 summer as an intern at NASA Langley Research Center. Driving up to the gates for the first time felt surreal. It felt like I didn't belong and like there was no way I was smart enough to be there. As I spent more time working and getting to know people, there was a sense of community and belonging that I could never have imagined. By the time those 10 weeks had passed, leaving the gates for the last time felt a lot like leaving home. It has now been three months since my internship ended, and I am still sad that it is over.”
“My internship experience at NASA was perhaps the best thing that I have ever done. The opportunity has opened so many doors and I gained lifelong connections with my mentors and other interns. The skills that I learned are some that I will carry with me throughout my professional career. I also learned so much about myself and what I want to do in the future. I got to work hands-on with instrumentation and data and I loved every second of it. I will never forget the people who helped me get there and those who made it such an amazing experience."
Madeline Stencil, Brown County, Wisconsin
Through my internship with Brown County, WI, I worked collaboratively with a skilled team. I was tasked with projects ranging from georeferencing aerial images to regulatory mapping and data analysis using industry-leading GIS software and technologies. These project assignments not only gave me valuable insights into real-world GIS applications within the public sector, but it also allowed me to make a tangible impact on Brown County's GIS initiatives. Each project presented unique challenges and opportunities, contributing to my growth and proficiency in GIS. The experiences I gained during my internship have undoubtedly contributed to my development as a GIS professional and will benefit my future endeavors in this rewarding field.
Elizabeth Williams, BLOXHUB
"I interned for three months in Copenhagen, Denmark, at BLOXHUB, a coworking and event coordinating space that aims to bring research and industry closer together under the umbrella of sustainable urbanization and the built environment. I worked closely with the Science Program, which organizes talks and PhD networks, and Urban Partnerships, who hosts international delegations and BLOXHUB and makes connections with organizations globally. I attended multiple conferences including the UIA World Congress of Architecture and the BMW Re*Leadership Festival.”
Lily Zolman, Great Lakes Climate Corps
"I not only gained knowledge through [interning with the Great Lakes Climate Corps], but I also gained several Forest Service certifications that I can apply to future jobs with the Forest Service. This experience gave me a better idea of what kind of jobs the Forest Service offers and what I want to pursue. I am grateful for the knowledge and technical skills that I have acquired throughout this experience. I have had the privilege to learn from some amazing people this summer."