Ocean Encounters Program Internship
In 1993 Ocean Alliance formed an affiliation with Cape Ann Whale Watch of Gloucester, Massachusetts, whereby Ocean Alliance would provide Cape Ann Whale Watch, with naturalist training and educational programs. Since that time, Ocean Alliance staff and volunteers have developed the Ocean Encounters Program (formerly the Cetacean Education Through Awareness Program). Run by the Ocean Encounters Program Education Coordinator and whale watch naturalist Cynde McInnis, Ocean Encounters trains interns to serve as naturalists on Cape Ann whale watch trips and to do basic whale research, including identification of whales through photographs the intern makes and data collecting of whale behaviors during daily, 4-hour, whale watch trips.
Ocean Ecounters naturalists and interns are present on every whale watch trip. Through a series of hands-on learning tools, they educate passengers about the whales they are seeing, the whales’ environment, and some of the problems whales face. The interns are also available to answer questions and engage in discussions with the passengers. The goal of this program is to educate people of all ages and walks of life about whales, and hopefully to encourage them to make their own efforts to protect whales and the oceans on which we all depend.
This internship is operated out of Gloucester, MA. The whale watching boats take between 150 and 250 passengers on half–day trips that usually last four hours. Two interns and a naturalist are present on every trip, typically working two trips in a day throughout the spring and summer season and once a day in the fall.
On the boat, Intern responsibilities include:
- Educating passengers about whales and their environment using hands-on teaching tools to enhance their understanding of whales and the ocean area in which they are seeing them
- Helping with the some of the general functions of the whale watch boat
- Collecting data on the whales of the Gulf of Maine, as well as assisting with data collection of the reactions of passengers
- Answering questions about the whales to help promote conservation of whales and their ocean environment
Off the boat, Intern responsibilities include:
- Participating in weekly meetings
- Entering data one day a week in the Gloucester office
- Participating in an intern project at Ocean Alliance headquarters once a week in Lincoln, MA
If you are enthusiastic about teaching, about whales, or about their environment and the promotion of conservation; if you have a desire to initiate changes in people’s attitudes and behaviors towards the environment, you may be ideal for this internship. We are looking for people who feel comfortable speaking in public, talking to strangers in small groups, teaching, or working with school age and younger children. This internship can be intense. It can also involve long hours. BUT, when you reach someone and change their attitudes about the importance of saving the seas,, it all becomes worthwhile.
The deadline for applying is March 1st of the year for which you are applying. Interviews will be conducted during the month of March. This is a volunteer position and interns are responsible for paying for their accommodations. However, group housing is available to offset summer housing costs. The season starts in the beginning of May and runs through October.
During that time, there is a summer and a fall session. The summer session starts in the middle of May, or earlier if possible, and ends in mid–August. The fall session starts in mid–August and runs through the end of the season. If you are interested, please send us your resume, a cover letter expressing why you are interested in the internship, the dates you are available, and two references. The address is:
Ocean Alliance
191 Weston Rd.
Lincoln, MA 01773
Attn: Cynde Bierman