Pathways Summer Internship Application 

Pathways is an internship program offered by Three Rivers Park District that provides young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, real-world experiences to explore a career in parks and recreation. Please take into account the locations of the park work sites as you indicate your internship preferences. Transportation scholarships are available. 

For more information, please visit our Pathways Internship website.

For any specific questions, please reach out to
Char Myers (Char.Myers@ThreeRiversParks.org, 763-559-6772) 
Terrell Lhotka (Terrell.Lhotka@ThreeRiversParks.org, 763-559-6754)

Looking for accessibility resources?

Please call 763.559.9000 (for relay services dial 711) or email access@threeriversparks.org to request specific services or discuss options. A two-week advance notice best ensures we can fulfill your request, but we do our best to accommodate on shorter notice.

Preference will be given to candidates who face one or more barriers to employment

Education and Recreation Internships 

• Baker Outdoor Learning Center (Maple Plain, MN): As an Outdoor Education Intern at the Baker Outdoor Learning Center, you will assist naturalist staff with archery, canoeing, fire-making, geocaching and other outdoor education programs. Focus will be on summer camps. The BOLC offers both day and overnight summer camps for youth ages 10-15 and also offers family camps. You will assist camp staff where you will engage and inspire youth in the outdoors (and have fun!). Minimum Age: 16 years 

• Gale Woods Farm (Minnetrista, MN): 
  As the Pathways Intern at Gale Woods, you will work in the gardens and help with maintaining and harvesting from them to sell in our store and at our market. 
  The intern will also have the opportunity to assist with the care of feeding of our livestock, and support farm education programs for all ages of visitors. These programs give people the opportunity to experience life on a working farm and learn about where their food comes from.  Minimum Age: 16 years 
  
  
• Eastman Nature Center (Maple Grove, MN):
  As an outdoor education intern at Eastman Nature Center you will work alongside professional naturalists assisting in programming that connect park guests to the outdoors. Most of the internship time is focused around working with children in our nature based summer camps but you will have opportunities to participate in other types of programs if available. You will be offered the opportunity to learn about our care and handling of our captive animals as well. Minimum Age: 16 years
  
  
• *Eastman Nature Center Spring Semester Internship (Maple Grove, MN): As an outdoor education intern at Eastman Nature Center you will work alongside professional naturalists assisting in programming that connect park guests to the outdoors. Most of the internship time is focused around working with children in our nature based school group and summer programs but you will have opportunities to participate in other types of programs if available. You will be offered the opportunity to learn about our care and handling of our captive animals as well. Minimum Age: 17 years
  
  
• Lowry Nature Center (Victoria, MN):
  Outdoor Education Interns at Three Rivers nature centers will assist with nature education programs for visitors of all ages. Focus will be placed on the summer camp programs, where you will help the naturalists engage and inspire the wonder of nature in children.
  Minimum Age:17 years
  
  
• Mississippi Gateway Regional Park (Brooklyn Park, MN):  
  As an Explorers Camp Intern at Mississippi Gateway, you will be helping to create positive experiences in nature for BIPOC audiences in the community. Work with professional environmental educators and assist them in leading nature-based summer day camps in parks, schools, and neighborhood sites for elementary-aged kids. Programs will focus on both outdoor recreation and nature education, such as archery, fire building, learning about plants and bugs, and so much more.  Minimum Age: 15 years 
  
  
• Outdoor Recreation School (French Regional Park, MN & Cleary Park) | 2 positions (1 at each location): 
  The Outdoor Recreation School (ORS) operates from two primary home bases—French Regional Park and Cleary Lake Regional Park—while delivering programs across many park locations throughout the Three Rivers Park District. ORS offers outdoor recreation experiences for visitors of all ages, inspiring a love of the outdoors through active recreation such as paddling, archery, fishing, youth summer camps, adapted recreation, and more. 
   
  ORS interns work approximately 20 hours per week with a highly variable schedule that may include weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Interns will have the opportunity to work at multiple park locations rather than a single site. ORS staff collaborate with interns to build schedules that balance intern interests, availability, and transportation considerations with the needs of programs across the district. 
  
  
• Silverwood Park Intern (St. Anthony): Under direction, assist staff in conducting programs that provide a comprehensive nature-inspired art education that will increase the public’s awareness to more fully appreciate, enjoy, and utilize the natural environment and facilities of the Park District through the creation and/or appreciation of visual and performing art. Interns will specifically support Silverwood Art Educators and Interpretive Naturalists during public programs including summer day camps or large indoor and outdoor events for youth, family, and adult audiences. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to interact with outside artists from the community in spaces such as the classroom, gallery, or performance venue. 

Park Maintenance and Natural Resources Internships

• Carpentry Services Internship (Elm Creek – Plymouth, MN or Silverwood – St. Anthony, MN): 
  The Carpentry Services internship provides a great opportunity for candidates with a sincere interest in the construction trades and exploring a career working in a large park system. Candidates will learn from Journeyman Carpenters the use of hand and power tools, routine equipment operation and maintenance. Work will include site prep and cleanup along with maintaining the facilities in a clean, safe manner. Minimum Age: 18 years 
  
  
• District Nursery Internship (Hanover) | 2 positions: Learn and work alongside nursery and forestry staff growing and taking care of native plants, reforestation, forest management, and doing invasive species control. Hiring 2 interns. Drivers license is preferred. Minimum Age 18
  *This position is a full-time seasonal internship. 
  
  
• Natural Resources Internship (French Regional Park – Plymouth, MN): 
  As the Natural Resources intern based out of the Field Operations center, you will assist field staff from our invasive species, wildlife, water quality, forestry and horticulture programs with projects throughout the Park District.  This rotational experience will provide an overview of the work this department engages in to keep our park reserves and undeveloped areas restored and maintained in a natural state.  Field projects could include vegetation surveys, invasive species mapping and removal, tree planting, native landscape maintenance, lake and stream sampling, wildlife and insect surveys, seed collection and plant nursery propagation.  Most of the work will be outdoors, with some limited office tasks planned for inclement weather.  This role is part of the dynamic natural resources team, committed to stewardship of the Park District’s natural resources and ecosystems.  Minimum Age: 18 years 
  * You don't need your own car, but a driver's license is preferred to operate TRPD vehicles. 

Park Operations Internships

• Public Safety Intern (Baker Park – Medina, MN): 
  As a Public Safety Intern, you will get real-world experience working inside a police department. You will assist the Public Safety Coordinator, Chief and Officers with day-to-day tasks. You will also get experience handling questions, problems and payments from the public. This would be a great opportunity for anyone looking for a future career in law enforcement or any career in customer service. Minimum Age: 18 years 

Community Events, Outreach and Technology Internships

• Community Engagement Internship (Field Operation Center - Plymouth, MN)| 2 positions:  As the Community Engagement Intern you will assist staff in introducing new audiences to camping, biking and other nature-based activities. Interns in this role will start each work day at French Regional Park, but will work primarily at other park locations and even outside of the Park District helping to facilitate activities to audiences of all ages. Interns will receive training to help lead a variety of recreation activities, will help with gear maintenance and management, and will also represent Three Rivers at community events talking with the public about opportunities available through the parks. Minimum Age: 15 years
  
  
• Donor Relations Internship (Administrative Center – Plymouth, MN): 
  Are you creative, organized and interested in events, fundraising or social media? The Donor Relations Intern will help bring our Foundation’s annual fundraising event on August 27, 2026 to life while learning how nonprofits build meaningful relationships with donors and volunteers. This role will primarily focus on supporting this major event through social media content creation, a Giving Tree initiative, day-of-event support and other hands-on event planning tasks. You’ll also serve on the event planning committee, gaining behind-the-scenes experience from start to finish. 
   
  In addition, you’ll help develop fun and thoughtful ways to thank donors and create key touchpoints with supporters. Open to ages 18+, this is a great opportunity for someone who wants real-world experience in event planning, fundraising, marketing and relationship-building—and wants to make a meaningful impact while doing it.  
  
  
• GIS/IT Internship (Administrative Center – Plymouth, MN) | 2 Positions: 
  GIS: Assist GIS Staff and carry out field work to help the Park District achieve its technological goals. Duties may include but are not limited to using GPS equipment/GIS applications to collect park features as well as operating a 3D camera to scan park facilities. Additionally, some IT shadowing experience may occur.  Minimum Age: 16 years 
  
  
• Organizational Development Internship (Administrative Center – Plymouth, MN): 
  Are you ready to make an impact while gaining experience in organizational development? Join our Human Resources team as an Organizational Development Intern! This is your opportunity to work on projects like creating onboarding videos for seasonal staff, designing mentoring program content, and contributing to micro-learning modules. Gain valuable experience, learn about parks and rec, and help enhance a positive workplace culture.
  Minimum age: 16 years

Thank you for your interest in Pathways. Your application will be reviewed and selected candidates will be invited to interview in late March. Remaining positions will be filled on a rolling basis.