Originally published in Points West magazine
Spring 2019
Interns, the Inside Scoop
Thanks to generous funding from the S.K. Johnston, Jr. Family, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is able to offer a number of internships each year in several departments from Public Relations to Conservation, Raptor Wranglers to summer programming. The internships offer specialized experiences to students that enhance their coursework, and at the same time, lend fresh voices and perspectives to the Center’s operations. Indeed, supervisors routinely observe how they learn as much, if not more, from their interns.

Below, Liz Bowers shares insights about her 2018 summer internship with the Public Relations Department (an experience that led to her current position as the Center’s Social Media Specialist). Additionally, she offers new interns “how-to” advice to maximize their experiences at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Here are images of Bowers’s fellow interns in the Class of 2018.
For more information on Center of the West internships, visit our internship page.
The Center’s internship program is funded in part by a grant from the Tucker Foundation through the S.K. Johnston, Jr. Family Fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation. We are grateful for their support!
Letter to an Intern…
Dear Summer Intern,
These few weeks of your internship will fly much more quickly than you think at first. Here at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, you won’t stand on the sidelines, make coffee runs for your supervisors, or mindlessly stand at a copy machine all day. On the contrary, you may find yourself conserving a priceless piece of art; presenting a real live, up close and personal wild raptor; writing blog posts about your discoveries and experience; photographing kids; or showing off our collections and activities through social media.
As an intern, you become an integral part of the team here at the Center of the West. Your talents and curiosity are invited daily to participate in projects that have a long-term impact here. Take every opportunity to participate in the daily life of the museum: Maybe that means volunteering to peel paper off glass for a new exhibit, decorating the float and participating in the annual Fourth of July Parade, or attending docent talks and special speaker events. You can only get out of an internship as much as you’re willing to contribute.
Ask yourself, “Why is an internship important?” Yes, the job experience you receive is second to none, but perhaps more important are the connections you make along the way. Venture outside your internship and immerse yourself in the Center’s extraordinary galleries. Take time to learn from the many talented staff members who surround you. Reach outside the box to fill a need with your talent and knowledge. Actively seek collaboration with other departments that enhance your projects and experience.
Instead of thinking, “What will this internship do for me?” Think, “What can I do for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West with the opportunity I’ve been given to become a part of the community here?” Your accomplishments here will surprise you! Don’t be afraid of criticism. Be ready to grow through every memory, experience, discovery, and connection.
Enjoy your adventure!
Sincerely,
Liz Bowers, Last Summer’s Public Relations Intern
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