Becky Gajewski worked for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks as a natural resources aide. The main focus of her job was to implement habitat restoration strategies within most of the 13 Metroparks throughout southeast Michigan.

The bulk of her work focused on removing invasive species through hand-pulling, sawing, lopping, and pesticide application. She also supervised workdays in which volunteers performed similar tasks. Other duties Becky performed included website content design, GPS location of rare and endangered species, GIS data compilation, and various research related to conservation and ecological restoration. Becky learned a great deal throughout the course of her internship from her knowledgeable supervisors. She learned how to identify many of Michigan's native and exotic plants, and she learned about the functioning of the various ecosystems in which she worked. The habitats she visited ranged widely from tamarack swamps to tallgrass prairies, and she was able to gain a great deal of experience working in various field conditions. Becky also developed her public speaking and communication skills by working closely with volunteers, park visitors, and other park staff on a regular basis. In addition, the internship afforded her the opportunity to obtain a commercial pesticide applicator's license from the State of Michigan.

Internship Details