Internship: Forestry

Hennepin County•Minneapolis, MN

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Hennepin County's Environment and Energy Department is seeking one forestry intern to assist with forestry work, primarily assisting with an exhaustive tree inventory of county rights-of-way and researching internal agreements to assign tree ownership. Work will also include utilizing ArcGIS Pro to assist in documentation of ownership, maintenance schedules, and other analysis. A portion of the work may also include assistance with tree planting, maintenance, monitoring, surveying, or other field work efforts associated with forestry projects. Hennepin Country's forestry program’s goal is to ensure that the county's tree canopy is diverse, equitable, healthy, maintained, protected, and flourishing. Ability to identify trees to a species level year-round and ArcGIS Pro experience is required. Prior experience in urban forestry or silvicultural tree survey work is highly encouraged. Other training to complete job tasks will be provided. The intern will have the opportunity to gain experience in community forestry at a county-wide scale.

Requirements

One of the following: Enrollment for the fall 2026 academic school year in a vocational, technical, associates, or bachelor's degree program in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or another related field.
Recent graduate (within 6 months) in a vocational, technical, associates, or bachelor's degree program in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or another related field.
Must be 18 or older by July 2026
A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit.
Access to reliable internet connection and self-support hybrid office space.
Lift up to 50 lbs. repeatedly.
Work primarily outside. This includes working in inclement weather e.g. rainy or snowy weather conditions, during low and high temperatures and can include hard to access locations.
Ability to identify trees to the species level in leaf-off conditions.
ArcGIS Pro experience.
Identifying signs and symptoms of common tree diseases.

Nice To Haves

Experience collecting tree inventory data.
Experience planting and maintaining trees.
Ability to work independently to complete assigned tasks.
Strong organizational, time- and task-management, and problem-solving skills.
Interest in learning about urban and municipal forestry and natural resource management.

Responsibilities

Use internal software to complete an exhaustive inventory of trees in the county’s rights of way.
Utilize ArcGIS Pro for data analysis and editing of the tree inventory.
Assist with data standardization and standard operating procedure development.
Assist with the development of maintenance calendars.
Assign ownership of trees based on historic agreements and contracts.
Plant trees on Hennepin County’s road and facility projects.
Assist with the maintenance of the county's gravel-bed tree nursery as needed. This may include watering, tracking inventory, caring for young seedlings, overall upkeep, weed control and mowing.
Drive county vehicles and pull trailers to job sites.