If you love wildlife, conservation, and hands-on fieldwork, this internship is for you! Spend your summer in the breathtaking North Woods of Minnesota at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, the only open classroom in the world where visitors can observe wild American black bears in their natural habitat.

This isn’t your typical internship—you’ll get your hands dirty, work long hours in all weather conditions, and experience wildlife encounters that most people only dream about. At the end of each day, you’ll be tired, fulfilled, and proud of the difference you’re making in the lives of these incredible animals.

What You’ll Do:

• Fieldwork & Habitat Maintenance – Heavy lifting, landscaping, food preparation, scat removal, and record-keeping on bear activity.
• Education & Outreach – Lead talks, engage with visitors, and help debunk myths about black bears.
• Research & Field Programs – Assist in a research study, participate in bird surveys & the MN DNR berry survey, and participate in in the field programs.
• Photography & Media – Document bear activity and create engaging content for our email subscribers and social media.
• Visitor Experience – Assist in the gift shop, admissions, and membership promotion.

We are looking for individuals that can stay for at LEAST one month between July 1st and October 15th. Since space is limited, those able to stay longer will be given preference.  We are ALWAYS looking for people to stay August-October 1st as we become short staffed as interns go back to school.