Summer Internship Blue Heron Ministries is looking to fill one field steward internship position for the summer of 2025. We are a nonprofit Christian land conservation organization based out of Angola, Indiana. We work with other nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and private landowners in and around northeast Indiana and southwest Michigan. Our mission is to build communities where creation is kept and keep creation so that community may be restored. A description of this internship is as follows: Intensive and arduous labor. Term will be the beginning of June thru mid-August (flexible). 35-40 hours a week. $13/hr. Invasive species control predominantly in wetlands in Steuben, LaGrange, and surrounding counties (Indiana and Michigan). Some travel and overnight stay may be required for distant projects. Control of herbaceous invasive species (i.e. reed canary grass, cattails, purple loosestrife, etc.) will involve herbicide applications. Some upland and wetland brush control will be included. Work conditions will be hot, wet, and poisonous (poison sumac, poison ivy, Massasaugas, etc.) but where else can you enjoy the presence of God while caring for His creation in such a tangible way? Flexible to work with course requirements. Able to assist with housing. Intern must have a positive attitude, the willingness to learn and take direction, the ability to work independently and with a crew, and possess an attention to detail. No experience necessary. Intern will obtain an Indiana pesticide applicator’s license during the internship. Interns will gain knowledge on a number of topics including but not limited to: Plant identification and monitoring The what, why, and how of ecological restoration Land management practices within prairie and oak ecosystems The lawful, ethical, and safe use of herbicides Opportunities to network with other conservation organizations Send resumes and cover letters to stuartbheron1@hotmail.com  Attn: Nate Simons. Applications will be accepted until February 14th.

View from the Crew by Eva Curtis

I started off my year doing my favorite thing: being outside! I gave some friends a tour of LaGrange County Park’s Duff Lake Fen at Pine Knob Park, where we saw some beautiful Sandhill cranes.

The crew kicked off the year by mixing some seed! It gets VERY dusty during this process, so we wear masks to avoid breathing in all the dust.

If this isn’t the largest oak tree in our area, it’s close to it! It took three members of the Blue Crew to wrap all the way around it. What an incredible sight!

Today was an exciting day for the Blue Crew. We toured our new BIG project. Here, you can see the crew gathered around Nate as he tells us about Nasby Overlook Prairie within Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area.

Can you guess who these tracks belong to? River otters! You can tell by the slides, and the little tail marks behind each set of paws.The otters were exploring the newly renovated dam at Nasby Millpond on the Pigeon River within Pigeon River FWA. How cute!

The Crew spotted some brush-cutting snow angels at Indiana Division of Nature Preserves” Loon Lake. This must be who’s been cutting down all of those invasive shrubs!

We are so lucky to have a small prairie as our neighbor at the shop! It was extra stunning on this frozen morning. It’s easy to love your job when you have a view like this everyday!

The crew’s first day back after attending The Stewardship Network Conference. This conference got us extra excited to get back to work restoring the amazing natural areas of Lakes Country. Here, Josh and I are gearing up to remove some invasive shrubs in our matching jackets!

These contraptions may look silly, but they are being used to spread seed! Matt, Madi and I covered three acres in native seed that will soon grow into a thriving prairie, on private property in Steuben County!