Kathryn Brainerd
Corcoran,MN
Summary
Accomplished Interpretive Guide at Minuteman Missile National Historic Park and Badlands National Park with a proven track record in delivering engaging educational programs to diverse audiences. Skilled in emergency response and effective communication, I excel in team leadership and public speaking, enhancing visitor experience and safety. Demonstrated ability to train staff and manage operations efficiently.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Interpretive Guide
Badlands National Park
03.2024 - 01.2025
- Prepares, develops and presents illustrated lectures, interpretive talks and programs about park features and resources to groups of 150 people or more
- Researches natural and cultural history information from a variety of sources to develop interpretive activities, write content for exhibits, and answer visitor questions
- Provide visitor services, such as explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and providing information about the park and surrounding areas
- Responds to mail requesting information about the park and junior ranger activities, using the correct postage to mail the brochures and junior ranger books, certificates, and patches
- Assist with operations of general facilities, such as visitor centers
- Confer with park staff to determine subjects and schedules for park programs
- Conduct field trips to point out scientific, historic, and natural features of parks, forests, historic sites, or other attractions
- Prepare and present illustrated lectures and interpretive talks about park features
- Perform emergency duties to protect human life, government property, and natural features of park
- Compile and maintain official park photographic and information files
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks
- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others
- Drives government vehicles to other park locations and fuels them at park facilities as needed
- Welcomes visitors as they enter the visitor center and provides general information about the site and its activities, as well as other parks and activities in the surrounding area
- Answers phones and questions
- Develops and leads adventure hikes
- Contributes to social media posts
- Operation of the crowder tub for sorting bison during our annual bison round up
- Acquires and photographs visitor families and their fossil finds for documentation
- Adapts quickly to changing environments within the workplace
- Demonstrates ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences
Interpretive Guide
Minuteman Missile National Historic Park
03.2024 - 01.2025
- Opens and closes remote sites, opening or locking the gates and restrooms, turning on or off the alarm, and turning on lights to prepare for tours
- Gives informal interpretive talks to individuals or small groups in the visitor center, answering questions about the site and the history of the Minuteman missile program
- Gives interpretive tours of up to 6 people at the Delta-01 Launch Control Center for 45-60 minutes
- Gives informal interpretive talks at the Delta-09 Launch Facility to groups between 1 and 50 people and answered questions regarding the missile launch facility and the Minuteman missile program
- Leads presentations in the visitor center theater featuring virtual tours of our Delta-01 Launch Control Center for up to 70 people
- Trains the seasonal rangers on how to give a tour at the historic sites and how to give a virtual tour, teaching them the content and history necessary for the programs; how to open and close up the park sites; and other daily responsibilities of the interpretive rangers
- Responds to mail requesting information about the park and junior ranger activities, using the correct postage to mail the brochures and junior ranger books, certificates, and patches
- Collects visitation numbers from traffic counters at the different park sites
- Cleans windows and the surfaces of the displays in our museum
Student Manager
University of Minnesota Crookston Women's Soccer
08.2023 - 12.2023
- Served as organizer, leader, and instructor
- Monitored the academic eligibility of student athletes
- Planned, organized, and conducted practice sessions
- Supervised and worked with extended coaching staff
- Oversaw the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities
- Kept and reviewed paper, computerized, and video records of athletes, team, and opposing team performance
- Provided training direction, encouragement, and motivation to prepare athletes for games, events, or tours
- Instructed individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles
- Monitored athletes' use of equipment to ensure safe and proper use
Desk Staff
University of Minnesota Crookston
05.2021 - 12.2023
- Greeted students and staff
- Wiped down work out equipment and put equipment away when not being used
- Enforced rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety
- Managed the daily operations of recreational facilities
- Made the work schedule for employees
- Point of sales for wellness center memberships for faculty and staff
- Set up the wellness center for events, such as basketball and volleyball tournaments, school functions and holiday events
- Trained new hires on daily operations of the wellness center, such as point of sales, checking people in and out, custodial work, and everyday upkeep of the facilities
- Worked with members and organizations of the community to reserve the wellness center courts for events
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground
- Took active role in interviewing, hiring and integrating new employees into team.
- Managed staff hiring, training and supervision.
Park Ranger and Attendant
Lewis and Clark State Park
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Provided visitor services, including explaining regulations, answering visitor requests, needs and complaints, and provided information about the park and surrounding areas
- Helped customers make or move campground reservations
- Performed routine maintenance on park structures such as vault toilets, shelter areas, and visitor center buildings
- Provided information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Developed constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time
- Provided personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers and customers
- Assisted maintenance crew in mowing and weed whipping park grounds
- Helped maintain visitor center gardens
- Presented interpretive programs
- Operated heavy machinery such as bobcats, chainsaws, trailers, and tractors
Office Secretary
Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Operated office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, voice mail systems, and personal computers
- Communicated with students, staff, and family members to answer questions, explain information, take orders, and address complaints
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, transcriptions, and other office procedures and terminology
- Ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking, and writing
- Created, maintained, and entered information into databases
- Maintained a safe environment
- Actively looked for ways to help people
- Provided information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Observed, received, and otherwise obtained information from all relevant sources
Legal Clerk
DSO West- US Navy
03.2018 - 07.2020
- Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates
- Managed accounts and client records of clients, observing confidentiality, and extreme discretion.
- Responded to client inquiries, providing accurate legal advice and offering assistance.
- Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Researched statutes, decisions, legal articles, and codes.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
- Assisted attorneys with reviewing and organizing witness reports.
- Interviewed clients to obtain information relevant to cases.
- Met with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases, clarify issues and provide information
- Investigated facts and laws to determine causes of action and prepare cases
- Prepared affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronically
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process
- Knowledge of principles and process for providing customer and personal services
- Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
- Developed specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work
- Researched relevant legal materials to aid decision making
- Prepared, proofread, or processed legal documents such as subpoenas, complains, appeals, motions, and pretrial agreements
Master at Arms
USS John C. Stennis- US Navy
02.2016 - 07.2017
- Identified, investigated, or resolved security breaches
- Responded to medical emergencies, bomb threats, fire alarms, or intrusion alarms, following emergency response procedures
- Planned, directed, or coordinated security activities to safeguard company assets, employees, guests, or others on company property
- Used logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
- Able to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
- Handled complaints, settled disputes, and resolved grievances and conflicts, negotiating with others
- Scheduled or dispatched workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination or people and resources
- Monitored and authorized entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises
- Monitored access or flow of people to prevent problem
Deck Seaman
USS John C. Stennis CVN 74
03.2015 - 07.2017
- Handled lines to moor vessels to wharfs, tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines
- Stood watch in ships' bows and bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ships path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses
- Removed grease, dirt, paint, or rust from ship surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents and brushes
- Sprayed surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings
- Reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfilling obligations
- Maintained composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in difficult situations
- Lead a group of 15 sailors to perform daily tasks, such as painting, needle gunning, and other preservation work
- Trained sailors for deck department watches, such as helm, lee helm, messenger, and lookout
- Trained sailors how to check out equipment such as respirators and hand tools
- Trained sailors how to go through the proper steps to check out hazardous materials
Cashier and Floors Clerk
Sports Authority
08.2014 - 02.2015
- Received payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits
- Greeted customers entering establishments
- Issued receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers
- Assisted customers by providing information and resolving their complaints
- Developed constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them over time
- Processed sales or other transactions
- Restocked apparel and equipment on the sales floor when items were running low
Cashier
Big Lots
09.2013 - 05.2014
- Received payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits
- Greeted customers entering establishments
- Issued receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers
- Assisted customers by providing information and resolving their complaints
- Developed constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them over time
- Processed sales or other transactions
Education
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resources- Park Management
University of Minnesota Crookston
Crookston, MN12-2023
Skills
- First aid certified
- Effective communication
- Time management abilities
- Public speaking
- Decision-making
- Teamwork
- Team leadership
- Emergency response
Certification
The Wilderness Act of 1964- Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands- December 2024
Foundations of Interpretation- Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands- December 2024
Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle E-Course- November 2024
Family Liaison officer- October 2024
CPR/First Aid/AED- January 2023
MN Tree Inspector- MN Department of Natural Resources- January 2023
IS700- Introduction to the National Incident Management- USFWS-University of Minnesota Crookston- April 2021
IS100-Introduction to the Incident Command- USFWS- University of Minnesota Crookston- April 2021
L180- Human Factors on the Fire Line- USFWS-University of Minnesota Crookston- Elements of Forestry-April 2021
S190- Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior- USFWS- University of Minnesota Crookston- April 2021
S130- Firefighting Training- USFWS- University of Minnesota Crookston- April 2021
MN ATV course
Firearms safety- MN DNR 2007
United States Navy Qualifications and Certifications:
OC Level 2- August 2017
OC Level 1- February 2016 M4 Rifle- February 2016
Shipboard Firefighting- USS John C. Stennis- July 2015
12-Gauge Shotgun- April 2015
M9 service pistol- April 2015
Affiliations
- AmeriCorp - VetsWork Intern 2024
- University of Minnesota Crookston Women's soccer team- DII- 2021-2023 - Captain
Timeline
Interpretive Guide
Badlands National Park
03.2024 - 01.2025
Interpretive Guide
Minuteman Missile National Historic Park
03.2024 - 01.2025
Student Manager
University of Minnesota Crookston Women's Soccer
08.2023 - 12.2023
Park Ranger and Attendant
Lewis and Clark State Park
06.2022 - 08.2022
Desk Staff
University of Minnesota Crookston
05.2021 - 12.2023
Office Secretary
Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District
09.2020 - 12.2020
Legal Clerk
DSO West- US Navy
03.2018 - 07.2020
Master at Arms
USS John C. Stennis- US Navy
02.2016 - 07.2017
Deck Seaman
USS John C. Stennis CVN 74
03.2015 - 07.2017
Cashier and Floors Clerk
Sports Authority
08.2014 - 02.2015
Cashier
Big Lots
09.2013 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resources- Park Management
University of Minnesota Crookston
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