Author: Jillian Daly, NC Coastal Reserve Communications Specialist
Read about past intern’s experiences and advice they have for future interns here.
The Friends of the Reserve have one summer internship opportunities in 2024:
2024 Friends of the Reserve (FOR) Undergraduate Internship
Friends of the Reserve (FOR) is sponsoring one intern to work with staff on stewardship activities at the northern sites - Currituck Banks, Kitty Hawk Woods, and Buxton Woods Reserves. This internship encourages promising and talented students from traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations to pursue study and careers in coastal and estuarine science by gaining professional experience working with the Coastal Reserve for the summer. The 2024 intern will be based out of the Northern Sites Office at the National Park Service headquarters in Manteo. The award will consist of a travel/housing stipend of $1500 and a paid summer internship consisting of 30 hours/week for 10 weeks at $15.00/hour.
Applications for the 2024 are due January 19, 2024 (11:59 pm). Apply here.
Three State of NC Internship opportunities are available at the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Beaufort office for summer 2024.
Applications are due January 8, 2024. The opportunities are focused on summer educational programming, training and stewardship, and research. You can apply to each separately.
Reserve Education Internship
Job Duties: The Coastal Reserve Education Intern will learn about estuarine ecology and coastal processes. They will learn how to translate science information into age-appropriate learning materials and activities. The intern will learn different teaching techniques to use in a classroom and informal settings. They will also gain valuable hands-on science teaching experiences, public speaking skills and organizational skills necessary to be a successful educator.
Major Task to be Performed: The intern will assist the Education Coordinator with summer camps, field trips and classroom activities. The intern will be involved in developing and presenting curriculum-based programs to a variety of age groups (pre-school through high school). The intern will be responsible for teaching portions of each program and will be encouraged to develop innovative activities to include in the summer camps and programs.
Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: The intern will be involved in all aspects of summer camp development including program scheduling, student registration, curriculum development and teaching. The intern is expected to develop a hands-on activity that will be used during the summer programs and posted on our website for teacher use.
Academic Majors Desired: Education, Environmental Science, Biology, Coastal Sciences.
See more details and apply here.
Coastal Reserve Research Internship
Job Duties: The intern will work with N.C. Coastal Reserve research staff to conduct estuarine field research with the opportunity to work some with the stewardship staff to help manage the natural resources of an island nature reserve.
Major Task to be Performed: The intern will participate in several types of scientific field sampling, including marsh vegetation surveys, shoreline mapping, and deploying and retrieving water quality instruments. The intern will also conduct bird and wild horse surveys, maintain public access points, and provide assistance with maintaining reserve boats.
Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: The intern will: a) enhance research and stewardship efforts and b) support a goal of the N.C. Coastal Reserve to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. The intern will learn: a) new research pathways and natural resource survey techniques and understand how results can inform coastal management decisions; b) how to use critical thinking skills to address natural resource management challenges.
Academic Majors Desired: Biology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management
See more details and apply here.
Environmental Stewardship and Outreach Internship
Job Duties: The intern will assist Coastal Reserve staff with activities related to management of an island nature reserve (Rachel Carson Reserve). They will also assist Coastal Reserve and N.C. Sea Grant staff with Homeowner Association (HOA) outreach focused on environmental stewardship.
Major Task to be Performed: For stewardship activities related to management of the Rachel Carson Reserve (~30 hours per week), the intern will assist with: posting signs, monitoring wild horses, birds, and other species; conducting trail maintenance and other site maintenance. For the outreach portion of the internship (~10 hours per week) the intern will: create a database of coastal N.C. HOAs; plan and facilitate a focus group or survey with select HOAs to determine outreach needs; and work with staff to develop a calendar of training events and plan event logistics.
Final Product or Outcome Anticipated: Understanding of nature reserve management; enhanced knowledge of coastal plants and animals; enhanced understanding of boat operations; HOA database; understanding of HOA training needs and training schedule.
Academic Majors Desired: Biology, environmental science, marine science, environmental biology
See more details and apply here.
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