The Environmental Education Internship is designed to support NSEA’s Program Team by facilitating outdoor education field trips throughout Whatcom County for 4th grade students between September and June. Programming occurs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Ideal candidates will be available for two or three weekdays (Wed-Fri), specifically prioritizing Wednesdays and Fridays due to program needs.

About NSEA
NSEA engages our community to recover wild salmon for future generations. Achieving our mission requires the collective work, involvement, and commitment of our community. At NSEA we work every day to expand the consciousness of our local community to include our streams and the salmon that can and do inhabit them. We provide Whatcom County residents with direct experience in restoration and the tools to steward salmon habitat. We believe when we begin to understand ourselves as citizens of our watersheds, the vision of sustainable wild salmon runs can become a reality. Our growing community of volunteers, students, and donors provides momentum as we work together to ensure that Whatcom County will be home to wild salmon for generations to come.

At NSEA, we strongly encourage candidates of all racial and gender identities, cultural and economic backgrounds, and of any sexual orientation to apply for employment and service opportunities. NSEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status in employment or the provision of services.

About the FLOW Program

As part of the Future Leaders of Whatcom Waters (FLOW) Program the Environmental Education Internship provides real-world experiences and professional development opportunities for future leaders of environmental and educational fields.

This experience is provided through opportunities to independently and collaboratively lead Students for Salmon (SFS) Field Trips. This program relies on Environmental Education Interns to function. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the SFS program requires 3-6 interns to fully lead interactive and educational components of field trips at various locations throughout Whatcom County. In the spring, interns will also support programming where students release salmon fry they have raised in their school aquarium.

The three phases of the internship include Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Fall quarter occurs between 9/3 – 11/21, which will consistently have 3-5 field trips per week.

Winter quarter occurs between 11/21 – 2/20, when interns can expect low hours.

Spring quarter occurs between 2/23 – 6/5, which will often have 3-5 field trips per week. Hours fluctuate throughout the quarters, and schedules will be released one to two months in advance.

Responsibilities:

Facilitate Students for Salmon Programming

Estimated 90% of time, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

• Educate fourth grade students in salmon ecology topics during four-hour, fully outdoor field trips in all kinds of weather
• Independently lead engaging educational stations emphasizing macroinvertebrates, native plants, and water quality
• Practice group management and youth engagement while leading groups of up to 12 students
• Maintain a safe, friendly, and inclusive learning environment for all students, adjusting to different abilities, learning styles, and English Language Learners
• Work collaboratively as a group of three interns and Education Coordinator
• Lift and load heavy equipment such as tents and tables, sometimes across vast outdoor restoration sites, in all weather conditions
• Prep, set up, and clean up before and after field trips, including entering program metrics on the computer

Organization and Program Support

Estimated 10% of time          

• Work collaboratively with fellow interns to plan and organize for upcoming needs
• Assist in all aspects of programming, including set-up, clean-up, and supply/tool maintenance
• Support additional NSEA programming efforts, if applicable
• Assist with facility needs, if applicable
• Other duties assigned, as needed

Individual intern schedules and responsibilities will depend on availability. Priority will be given to applicants with full availability (Wed-Fri) September 3 – June 5 to meet program needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years or older
• Able to get to NSEA’s campus, located at 3057 E. Bakerview Rd. in Bellingham
• Available two of the following days: (7am-4:30pm) Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays throughout the internship term
• Ability to walk on uneven terrain while lifting, carrying, or pulling program gear up to 40 lbs (buckets of tools, canopy tents, wheeled carts with 20+ lbs of gear)
• Some days will require more than 8 hours of standing, bending, and walking

The most successful applicants will have:

• A strong passion for NSEA’s mission, environmental education, stewardship
• Passion and/or experience working with youth
• Willingness to work in 90% outdoor and 10% office settings throughout the term
• Lived or professional experience working with people of all ethnicities, gender identities, incomes, abilities, and ages, especially youth
• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish, Punjabi, or Ukrainian fluently