Help restore Iowa’s natural beauty while learning about ecology, land management and wildlife as land stewardship intern! As an Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation intern, you’ll be part of one of the most respected internship programs in the state.

Internship description

Land stewardship interns work hard to maintain and restore native landscapes across Iowa in four distinct regions: Central Iowa, Eastern Iowa, Loess Hills and the Blufflands. A crew is hired each summer for each region; see the region descriptions below for specifics. 

Interns will conduct needed land management and restoration on remnant and reconstructed prairies, woodlands, oak savannas and other natural areas owned or protected by INHF. Interns will use a variety of hand tools and chainsaws to help accomplish restoration goals. 

Interns will learn from and work closely with landowners and working professionals in the field. Educational opportunities, including participation in regional conferences, will be provided. 

The internship will give interns vital skills and experience for a career in conservation or land management, as well as a greater appreciation for the importance of our natural areas. It meets most college credit requirements for work/internship experience. This is a physically demanding, yet very rewarding internship.

Work examples

Much of the work will focus on prairie, oak savanna and woodland restoration with an emphasis on invasive species control. Control of species is by chainsaw, hand saw, digging, pulling and herbicide treatment. Specifically, interns may be:

• Mechanically removing eastern red cedars and other woody species from prairies and woodlands
• Hand pulling invasive species like wild parsnip and sweet clover from prairies
• Stream bank stabilization, fire break construction, wildlife habitat management and prairie seed collection are other possible intern activities

INHF's land internship program prioritizes safety. All interns will receive training in the chainsaw/brush saw operation, UTV operation, herbicide application, first aid and CPR and workplace harassment prevention.

Skills/Qualifications

This internship is physically demanding, requiring fit, motivated individuals. Those with a positive attitude, eagerness to learn and desire to make our natural areas healthier are well-suited for this position. Interns will work exclusively outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions including heat, humidity and rain. 

Driving to various work sites and occasional camping (amount of camping varies by region; see specific details in the regional breakdown) is required. Interns must have a working vehicle or be able to coordinate a ride or carpool. 

College students of any age, even freshmen and graduate students, are eligible to apply. Compatible majors to this internship include, but are not limited to: animal ecology, botany, biology, forestry, environmental studies or environmental science. 

Applicants, except those applying for a position in the Loess Hills region, must have an Iowa connection (a family relation, attending an Iowa school or be originally from Iowa, for example).

Regional Crew Details

INHF stewardship staff and intern crews work across the state in four different regions. Learn about the specifics for each regional internship below. 

Central:

• Work areas include around 20 different sites in the Central Region; much of the work occurs near Des Moines with headquarters at Snyder Heritage Farm in Elkhart
• Typically hire 6-7 interns
• Housing is available in this region
• Interns camp 5-6 weeks of the 11-week term in state/county parks and public natural areas; meals are provided while interns are camping

For more information, contact Derek Miner, land stewardship associate at dminer@inhf.org or 515-288-1846, ext. 17.

Eastern:

• Work sites are predominately within a 12-county area, with an emphasis in Iowa, Johnson and Scott counties with headquarters at Kahler Prairie, just outside of Iowa City 
• Typically hire 3 interns
• Housing is not offered for this region
• Limited camping will be required; meals are provided during camping times

For more information, contact Bill Kohler, eastern Iowa land stewardship director,  at bkohler@inhf.org or (515) 809-5681.

Loess Hills:

• Work sites are predominately within a 13-county area, with an emphasis in Monona and Harrison counties with headquarters near Pisgah; regular work on steep, hilly terrain
• Typically hire 3 interns
• Housing may be available for this position
• Limited camping will be required when working outside of Loess Hills region; meals are provided during camping times
• Applicants do not need to have an Iowa connection to apply

For more information, contact Kody Wohlers, Loess Hills land stewardship director, at kwohlers@inhf.org or 402-578-1935.

Blufflands:

• Work sites are predominately within a 7-county area, with an emphasis in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties with headquarters in Decorah; regular work on steep, hilly terrain
• Typically hire 5-6 interns
• Housing is not offered for this region
• Limited camping will occur if working outside of the Blufflands region; meals are provided during camping times

For more information contact Jered Bourquin, blufflands associate, at  jbourquin@inhf.org or 563-382-2008.

Hours and Compensation

The internship begins May 18, 2026 and ends August 6, 2026. Interns will work a total of 11 weeks within that period; the week of the 4th of July is off. The work week will consist of 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday. Compensation is $15/hr.