Forestry Summer Internship – Joel Steinhauer
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EmailJoel Steinhauer is spending his summer interning at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as a Student Forestry Assistant.
Forestry undergraduate student Joel Steinhauer, class of 2026, shares his experience interning at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Grayling Field office.
Where are you interning this summer, and what is your position/title?
I’m working for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Grayling Field office, as a Student Forestry Assistant
How did you find or apply for this internship?
Two of my friends in Forestry had worked in the same position, and they recommended that I apply for government jobs.
Can you describe some of the main things you’ve been working on so far?
Most of my work has been in timber sale prep. I’ve been painting in sale boundary line and retention, making sale maps in ArcGIS, and cruising. In addition to this, I have been mapping road accessibility and assessing damage in Aspen, Red Pine, and Jack Pine due to the March Ice Storm. My internship has been made very interesting with the ice storm, as we are working exclusively in storm-damaged stands, setting up salvage sales.
What does a typical day or week look like in your role?
A typical week in my role always includes a lot of timber sale boundary painting with some other tasks mixed in, such as cruising or assessing storm-damaged stands that may need treatment.
What are you hoping to learn or accomplish by the end of your internship?
By the end of my internship, I am hoping to be fully independent in completing a timber sale from start to finish. I am confident that I can complete this goal within the next month.
Do you have a favorite moment or memory from your internship so far?
My favorite moment of this summer was getting up close and personal with a Barred Owl sitting on a branch of a dead oak tree. Upon further inspection, the tree and the trees next to it had holes in them that had owl feathers in them. After consulting with the wildlife biologist, I buffered the surrounding area out of the timber sale, so they were spared!
Any Advice for students looking for an internship?
Apply as early as possible and keep applying to jobs all school year. The wider net that you cast will give you better chances of landing the internship that you want! Also, be extra sure that you give all the required documents and information that they will ask for; often, the employer will not consider your application with missing materials.
