Now accepting applications for summer 2010 education/research interns! We are also seeking Touch Tank Interns/Volunteers for the summer 2010 season at both our Portsmouth, NHtouch tank and our Sea Life Discovery Center in Salisbury Beach, MA.
Internship Applications Due March 1, 2010 - all materials, including recommendation letters, must be postmarked or emailed by March 1.
Click here for one time and ongoing volunteer opprtunities
We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated people to join us as interns for 10-12 week sessions throughout the year.
Internship Description and Responsibilities
Interns work one-on-one with our research scientists/educators aboard different whale watch boats and other locations in the beautiful Seacoast, New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts areas. This internship will give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience in marine research, teaching and life working in a non-profit environment. We are hoping to hire interns for all seasons with one application period, therefore applications for all seasons are due on March 1. Additional applications may be accepted for fall, winter and spring months if positions are available after the initial hiring process.
Interns learn about all of our programs and perform different tasks as required, but choose a focus area so the internship can best complement their needs and interests. Below are more details on each focus area.
Research Focus
Founded in 2000, we are a fairly new organization. While we have collected about twelve years' worth of research data, we have just completed the process of entering and cataloging the data and do not currently have publications in peer-reviewed journals. However, interns will have the opportunity to work with our data, complete their own research project and submit abstracts for conference posters and presentations.
A typical day for a research intern may involve:
(June-September) Riding two whale watch trips, 8 AM-6 PM. These trips are aboard commercial whale watch vessels with our affiliated companies. On the trips you will be responsible for spotting whales and recording data on animals and marine debris. While most of the time is spent on the boat, there will be times when interns are working in the office on data cataloging and data entry.
(October-May) Riding whale watches in season, or spending the day in our office working with our staff on photo-identification projects (e.g. matching finback whale photos to our master catalog), typing up sighting summaries, entering data into our databases, or working on an individual research project.
Education Focus – Boat-based Outreach
One of our most established programs is our outreach on public whale watches. Education interns on the whale watches are responsible for teaching passengers and answering questions. They can also assist in developing and implementing new educational materials and programs and conducting surveys of passengers. We are looking for interns who can bring new ideas to our educational programs and have an enthusiasm for interacting with the public and public speaking.
A typical day may involve:
Riding one or two whale watch trips (whale watch trips go out from May-October) and talking to passengers, answering questions, and bringing around teaching tools such as baleen and whale bones. You will also be given the opportunity to make presentations over the PA. Interns in other seasons will assist with program development and delivering programs at schools and various other sites.
Education Focus – Touch Tank & Shore-based Outreach
In addition to outreach on whale watches, we have several shore-based education programs that interns can be involved in. Interns in this position may assist in maintaining our touch tank and conducting educational presentations about rocky shore marine life at the tank and aboard local sightseeing vessels; developing presentations and materials for our beach education program and school programs and conducting educational programs for local schools and groups as needed. New! We are also looking for educators for our Sea Life Discovery Center in Salisbury Beach, MA!
A typical day may involve:
(May-October) Opening up our touch tank for the day and conducting a presentation, then bringing touch tank animals onto a tour boat for examination by the public and conducting small group presentations and activities aboard the boat; working in the office on educational materials; or conducting an educational program for children at a local beach.
(November-April) Assisting with and conducting educational programs for schools and groups; developing slide shows and activities for presentations; assisting in collecting tide pool animals or opening/shutting down our touch tank for the season.
Summer Program Structure Summer is our most competitive internship season. We have found that a structured internship program provides the greatest benefit and learning opportunities for our interns.
Responsibilities for all summer interns include: attending weekly meetings; completing weekly reading assignments to help you gain background knowledge; assisting with data entry and cataloging projects; helping with special events as needed; and assisting crew with boat operations as needed.
Qualifications: Our internships are geared toward college students and recent graduates, but are open to anyone over age 18. Those who have completed their sophomore year of college will receive preference. Those under age 18 should contact us about volunteer opportunities outside of our internship program. Non-U.S. students are welcome to apply.
This is a fun and exciting opportunity to experience the daily challenges of working on the ocean in all conditions and having the chance to interact with and inspire the public. The ideal candidate will be outgoing, enthusiastic, detail oriented and have a strong desire both to learn and teach. A desire to practice or improve public speaking skills is essential. Background knowledge of biology is helpful, but prior experience is not necessary. Although all training is provided, we are looking for motivated individuals who have the ability to learn on their own and work independently in addition to working with our staff.
Schedule: Positions are available full- or part-time (applicants who can commit to 30+ hours per week will receive priority). Full-time summer interns can expect to work 50-55 hours per week. To maximize your experience, a minimum 10-week commitment is suggested. Summer interns must be available to start work by June 1 and be available on weekends and holidays.
College Credit: We will help you arrange college credit if desired. It is your responsibility to find out how to get credit through your school, but we will complete any paperwork your school requires.
Pay: The position is unpaid. While it is possible to find a part-time job, this internship is your first priority and we will not work around other schedules. Applicants that have the funds to do this full-time will be given priority. Interns in the past have received assistance in the form of grants or scholarships from their college; we suggest you check with your college to find out if this is possible. Qualified interns may also be able to earn extra income by helping with paid educational programs, but this should be considered a bonus rather than income to depend on.
Housing: Interns are responsible for finding their own housing. We will assist wherever possible.
Transportation: We work on boats that are located up to 45 minutes from our office, and there is very limited public transportation in this area. Having your own vehicle is strongly recommended and those with their own reliable transportation will be given preference.
Internship Description and Responsibilities