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The Intern Experience

Thomsen Foundation affords individuals opportunities to learn hands on skills to further their education and hone skills to foster land stewardship. Interns are immersed in the day to day actions to maintain the property, provide lectures and group tours, and allow for growth in a variety of areas related to nature and consercvation.

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Photo by Logan Burchett

Logan Burchett

Through my internship at Thomsen Foundation, I have gained many important life skills: like leadership skills, mechanical knowledge, and independence. I am always learning new ways to be a better land steward in order for future generations to enjoy the land as I have.

 

An important aspect of wildlife and conservation management is the people management. As great as it is to sometimes work alone outside, I've also learned the importance of working with others towards a common goal. Part of the Thomsen Foundation's mission is to teach others the importance of conservation. I have been fortunate to guide field trips of all ages and interests, taking them on hikes where we have a naturalist scavenger hunt for specific native plants like the compass plant, which is an indicator species since you can only find it if the pasture is not overgrazed.

 

I am not always in a teaching position though when we have guests out, for example, I have been fortunate enough to tag along with researchers and other professionals in their field and have even had the opportunity to observe and re-queen honey bee hives.

 

I have learned many important methods for rangeland management; one of which is the use of cattle. We do not graze cattle to sell, as most ranches do, instead we use them only as a tool. Similar to mob grazing, by mimicking how buffalo would have naturally grazed in large herds and moved quickly through the plains, we use cattle to spread our existing seed bank by grazing in one location where a plant or plants are prominent, then moving them to a location that lacks plant diversity. 

 

I couldn't ask for a better internship experience.Thomsen Foundation treats me as if I am one of their own and has always had my best interest at heart. I enjoy work, have met some really great people, and get to do something that has a real impact on leaving the world a better place. 

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