Volunteering
"Working with people to manage Minnesota's natural resources"
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) volunteer opportunities are listed by geographic location or by specific programs. (Check the links to the right.) "Statewide opportunities" indicate jobs that either are scattered throughout the state or that you can do regardless of where you live.
These listings do not include all DNR volunteer opportunities -- just those DNR staff have requested be advertised. If a volunteer opportunity is not listed for your area, contact your local DNR office to inquire about available volunteer positions. To find your local office, call 1-888-646-6367 for DNR directory assistance, or check the online office locator
CyberNews Service - Receive volunteering news via e-mail!
Subscribe to DNR volunteering CyberNews services and be the first to receive news and updates on DNR volunteering opportunities. Go to the CyberNews Service page and under the "subscribe" section, check the box by "Volunteering news." Type in your e-mail address, click on the "subscribe" button, and you're done! You will receive notices of new seasonal volunteer positions four times a year plus an occasional volunteer news item.
If you subscribe to the CyberNews and are currently receiving a printed copy of this newsletter by US Mail, please e-mail: renee.vail@dnr.state.mn.us to remove your name from the printed mailing list. This will reduce mail clutter in your home and save your tax dollars on postage. Be sure to state your name, current address, and ID number next to your name on the mailing label, if possible.
Focus on Volunteers: Summer 2008
Gladys Tinjum – Bemidji Fisheries
Originally from Peru, Gladys Tinjum decided to try volunteering for the DNR last fall. She helped PIT tag muskie fingerlings at the Bemidji fish hatchery for about 6 hours one day.
According to Dennis Johnson, Bemidji Fisheries, "PIT" tags are tiny, coated identification chips that are injected into the muskie fingerlings. It is the same chip that is injected into dogs, cats, horses, etc. for identification if the animal gets lost. PIT stands for "passive integrated transponder". When activated by a reader, the chip powers up and emits a unique identification number. If the fish are caught later on you can tell exactly which fish was tagged by referring to a database containing the I.D. number. Population estimates can be done, movement patterns, and in the case of muskies in a brood stock lake, you can track which fish are used for egg take from year to year. DNR’s muskie research biologist has PIT tagged all muskie stocked into Elk Lake for the past two or three years.
Thank you, Gladys, for all your help!
Talking to the Fish
Oftentimes volunteers help the DNR under tough conditions. Last August, one volunteer worked with Baudette area fisheries during their trawling operations on Lake of the Woods. It turned out the volunteer was prone to seasickness, and in between tugging on the trawl, he spent a fair bit of time with his head perched over the gunwales talking to the fish.
"But he never complained, and he gave us the extra hand we needed that day. We are fortunate to have a pool of volunteers available to help us when we are short a body or two. Without them, we would not be able to conduct some of our fish management activities on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River," according to Dennis Topper, Fisheries Manager, Baudette.
