An end to our summer with NRD youth workers

Leaves are slowly beginning to change, garden harvesting is ramping up, and the NRD summer youth worker season is winding down. The past couple months have had weeks filled with beach clean-ups, jam making, macroinvertebrate sampling, and garden plot tending. Ivan and Nathaniel returned as our year-round team members and were joined by Kaleb, Zae, and Lealynd, the newest additions to our Great Lakes crew! As the most experienced youth, Ivan and Nathaniel took on additional leadership responsibilities and helped ensure tasks and projects were successful.

In addition to our typical activities, youth had exciting opportunities, including the Lake Superior Youth Symposium in Duluth, MN, a Geoheritage internship with Michigan Tech, and GLIFWC’s Career Day at Camp Nesbit. During the Career Fair the youth had the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in natural resources and also spoke to peers about their experiences as youth workers in the field. When asked about their favorite activity this summer, many of the Youth Workers listed events such as the Kids Fishing Derby, Lake Superior Day, and the Powwow. Several said their favorite part of the job was how much time they got to spend outdoors, giving them the chance to be active and continuously learn new things. As Nathaniel put it, “We’re along for the ride.”

Kaleb grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved here last summer to be closer to family. He enjoyed working with other Tribal members and connecting with his relatives. When asked why he decided to apply for the NRD Youth Worker position he joked, “I wanted to get an NRD t-shirt.” More seriously, he added, “The people here are super nice and very accepting,” and said he enjoyed working with them. Outside of work, Kaleb enjoys watching One Piece and other anime and playing video games like Minecraft.

Zae applied for the Youth Worker position because she wanted a job that allowed her to be outside.  “Who wants to work inside all summer?!” she said. When asked what she enjoyed most this summer, she enthusiastically shared that she loved learning more about wildlife, as well as the more artistic activities we took part in, like sewing. Outside of work, she enjoys doing arts and crafts like painting and making dreamcatchers, as well as swimming and paddle boarding. In the future, she hopes to travel—her dream destination is the Amazon River because of its incredible wildlife.

Ivan has been a Youth Worker for three years and is the most senior member of the group. His experience shines through, especially when he has the chance to reflect on how things have changed over the years. He originally applied because it was the first job he was eligible for, but he has stayed because he values learning about the area where he grew up. “I also really appreciate that every week is different. Sometimes we do events, but there are always new opportunities and experiences, like learning to sew feast bundles for Lake Superior Day.” Outside of work, Ivan likes to hang out with his friends and play first-person shooter games like R6.

Nathaniel prefers variety in his work because “… it keeps things interesting.” Over the years, he has assisted with fish stocking, fin clipping, and teaching at the Environmental Fair. This summer he enjoyed even more new experiences, including tending a garden and learning how to cook the vegetables they harvested. Outside of work, Nathaniel enjoys working out and spending time on his new car.

Lealynd is one of our newest Youth Workers and appreciated the chance to learn something new every day. His love of the outdoors is what originally attracted him to the position, and he took full advantage of all the new experiences. Outside of work, Lealynd enjoys swimming, fishing, skateboarding, and spending time with friends. He also plays hockey and wants to take another trip to Florida.

This week, the Youth Workers presented to their families and other NRD staff, sharing some of their accomplishments. We lunched on a homemade feast – pasta, tomato sauce, and garlic bread; all made from scratch by the youth. As the summer wraps up, we’re proud of the growth, dedication, and curiosity these Youth Workers brought to every task. Whether they were leading events, participating in cultural activities, exploring nature, or simply learning something new, they each contributed in meaningful ways to the team and community. Their continued engagement has made this summer a productive and memorable season for the entire NRD.