Prairie Intern

Engage with the environment, cultivate your potential, and partake in career-building experiences at the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park in Elk Horn, Iowa!

Internship - May - August 2024

40 hours per week with a flexible schedule

Pay: $1,200 monthly stipend

Benefits: Access to a car and a rent-free, fully furnished house that includes utilities and internet

The Museum of Danish America is currently seeking a full-time, summer intern who will assist in the management of prairie and wetland restoration, a green roof, and a sustainable landscape at its Elk Horn, Iowa campus. The prairie intern will work with our facilities department and a professional ecologist on the management and monitoring of the prairie. The intern will be tasked with restoration and fieldwork including invasive species control, seed collection, water level management, site monitoring, and botanical and biological inventory. Additionally, the intern will have the opportunity to take field trips to various prairies in the Midwest.

This internship is made possible by the support of the Ronald D and Mary L Bro Prairie Internship fund.

Candidates at any level are welcome to apply.

Skills required:

· General knowledge of natural resources and the conservation field

· Plant ID / basic knowledge and a desire to learn more

· Knowledge of ecological restoration concepts and practices

· Ability to perform physical fieldwork in adverse weather conditions

Skills desired:

· Pursuing a degree in natural resources, landscape architecture, horticulture, environmental science, or a related field

· Landscape architecture graphics and design

· Prepare presentations and communicate effectively

Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2025. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Tim Palmer: tim.palmer@danishmuseum.org. Questions are welcome. You can also submit your resume and cover letter through Handshake.

"During my internship at the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, I learned a lot of information that was relevant to my interests. A lot of the work revolved around the maintenance of the prairie, but I also helped plant the wetland area and maintain other areas such as the garden beds in the front of the museum. I learned a lot about the native plants of Iowa, mainly in the prairie ecosystem, as well as how to take care of invasives in the prairie. If you’re interested in landscape architecture, horticulture, or something similar, you could learn a lot from this position." - Cooper Larsen, 2022 intern. Cooper is currently employed by Seelman Landscape Architecture and is assisting in the creation of a master plan for the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park. He is pursuing a B.A. in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University.

"I worked for the Museum of Danish America in the summer of 2021. Covid-19 was still a huge fear then, but I was grateful to have found this cheerful and welcoming community for the summer. My duties included pulling and treating invasive plants, keeping a lookout for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife, as well as documenting the changes that I was seeing in the prairie. I also had the opportunity to watch the reshaping of the wetland and helped reseed the area in the last month of my internship. My favorite moments were learning about the traditions of MoDA: Sankt Hans Aften, coffee and kringle, more coffee, and keeping history alive. I learned a love for botany and restoration that summer which has led me into the career path I’m on today." - Wren Klump, 2021 intern, B.S. in Environmental Science

Individuals interested in learning more about the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park and the Museum of Danish America may do so at our website: www.danishmuseum.org.

The Museum of Danish America is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer.