Overview

Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) is an ocean conservation and advocacy non-profit organization. TIRN has offices in Olema, California and Galveston, Texas, along with projects all around the world. The Gulf office works to protect and restore populations of endangered sea turtles and marine biodiversity on the Texas coast and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. For over 30 years, our efforts have safeguarded sea turtles and engaged the public in our conservation efforts through education, outreach, classroom visits and other habitat protection efforts.

TIRN is seeking interns for the 2024 Summer term. The unpaid position is based in Galveston, Texas and will begin the week of May 13th, 2024. 

Position Summary

This is a three-month position, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Time commitment:

• Summer 2023: mid-May through mid-August (3 months)
  • Potential for internship extension past the 3 months
• Hours per week: 5-10 hours
  • Varying hours depend on beach cleanups and programs scheduled for the week
  • Preference will be given to those able to work during the week and on Saturdays

Intern Roles & Responsibilities

• This is a part-time position Monday-Friday (Saturdays occasionally required).
• Outreach and education: Responsible for working events, festivals and in-classroom presentations. Present information about specific programs and TIRN. Organize materials prior to the event. 
• Microplastics Research: Field sampling of beach sand and water. Laboratory analysis of samples. Conduct outreach of collection and sampling activities with students and teachers. Help host beach cleanups, including recording data, taking pictures of event, and leading the group.
• Monofilament: Collect, clean, weigh, and record recycled monofilament line.
• Cigarette Buttler Program: Collect, clean, weigh, and record recycled cigarette butts. Submit cigarette butts to Galveston Surfrider.
• Straw campaign: Recruit individuals and businesses to take the pledge. Prepare information to provide to establishments. Track participating establishments (reduction in number of straws distributed at each location, establishments that switch to paper straws, establishments that sell reusable straws).
• Comments: Research topics in relation to comments. Write comments, usually in regards to ocean conservation issues.
• Social Media: Assist in creating content to post. Aid in creating social media calendar/strategy. 
• Research: Assist GOM staff researching a variety of topics related to GOM projects.
• Other duties: Tasks as assigned by Gulf Program Director or Coordinator. 

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience in education and outreach program presentations
• Ability to project a positive image within the community
• Ability to communicate effectively within a team and to members of the public
• Experience collecting, entering, and organizing data
• Ability to work independently and organize oneself
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Basic PC or Mac proficiently (Windows Office and Google Documents)
• Strong organization skills with attention to detail 
• Must be reliable and responsible

Learning Objectives

The Gulf of Mexico Internship will help you gain hands-on experience with education, outreach, research, advocacy, and community engagement in Galveston, TX. Interns will also learn about the dynamic inner workings of a non-profit, including fundraising, community development, database management, and campaign support.

Terms

Salary: Unpaid.

Location: This position is based from out Education Center in Galveston, TX.

Starting Time: This is a 3 month commitment, beginning mid-May though mid-August. Potential for internship extension past the 3 months.

Hours: Part-time (5-15 hours/ week). Varying hours depending on programs scheduled for the week. Monday-Friday, with Saturdays occasionally required.

We are happy to work with academic departments to ensure the internship meets requirements for academic credit.