Volunteering
"Working with people to manage Minnesota's natural resources"
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) volunteer opportunities are listed by geographic location or by specific programs. (Check the links to the right.) "Statewide opportunities" indicate jobs that either are scattered throughout the state or that you can do regardless of where you live.
These listings do not include all DNR volunteer opportunities -- just those DNR staff have requested be advertised. If a volunteer opportunity is not listed for your area, contact your local DNR office to inquire about available volunteer positions. To find your local office, call 1-888-646-6367 for DNR directory assistance, or check the online office locator
CyberNews Service - Receive volunteering news via e-mail!
Subscribe to DNR volunteering CyberNews services and be the first to receive news and updates on DNR volunteering opportunities. Go to the CyberNews Service page and under the "subscribe" section, check the box by "Volunteering news." Type in your e-mail address, click on the "subscribe" button, and you're done! You will receive notices of new seasonal volunteer positions four times a year plus an occasional volunteer news item.
If you subscribe to the CyberNews and are currently receiving a printed copy of this newsletter by US Mail, please e-mail: renee.vail@dnr.state.mn.us to remove your name from the printed mailing list. This will reduce mail clutter in your home and save your tax dollars on postage. Be sure to state your name, current address, and ID number next to your name on the mailing label, if possible.
Focus on Volunteers: Fall 2008
State Fair Volunteers
Mike Aitchison, Annadale, and Carol Hansen, Roseville, have been volunteering to play or lead Smokey Bear around the DNR Building during the Minnesota State Fair for many years now - 11 to be exact. They both started in 1998 (that’s at least when the DNR Volunteer Office started keeping track on a database) or earlier. Smokey Bear has been the symbol of fire prevention for the past 64 years. Thank you, Mike and Carol, for keeping Smokey alive and reminding people to be careful with fire!
Interesting Note: Over 800 people volunteered to assist the DNR at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair. Over 30,000 people volunteer annually to work with the DNR. Check out the volunteer opportunities for Fall to see how YOU can get involved!
Baudette Fisheries Volunteers
When extra hands are needed, volunteers like Katie Carlson and Madeline Heinrich are there to help. Baudette Fisheries was scheduled to conduct an assessment of the largemouth bass population on Hayes Lake this spring, but found there was only two staff available. A three-person crew was needed to safely conduct the electro fishing assessment.
According to Dennis Topp, Assistant Fisheries Supervisor, "The job required working at night, into the wee hours of the morning, so we were very fortunate to have Katie volunteer to help us under those conditions. She is an avid angler and could identify the fish species that we were targeting. Because of her help, we were able to finish the assessment as planned."
Madeline Heinrich also came this past spring to help with the lake sturgeon spawning evaluation in the Rapid River while staff trawled on Lake of the Woods to collect fish for disease testing. Madeline helped for the better part of three weeks, after her college semester ended, and before she started her summer job. "She even helped with less romantic chores, such as hanging nets to dry, and cleaning the debris from nets," said Dennis Topp.
Madeline is pictured here driving the 25 foot Boston Whaler while the other two crew members hoist the trawl into the back of the boat. In the second photo, Madeline is pictured with Captain Tom Heinrich, who is also her dad.
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Thank you, Katie and Madeline for all your help!
