Internships Programs
Primary Education Internship
Interns in the Ocean Alliance Primary Education Internship (PEI) program work from our main office in Lincoln, MA. PEI interns are responsible for communicating with schools and participating in the Ocean Alliance WHALE Education Program. Our PEI program internships are expanding to explore new contacts and to prepare further offerings for education associations, as well as assisting in school presentations.
Additional duties will include investigating educational grants via internet and updating Ocean Alliance's web-based education initiatives. Those interested in this program need to have strong writing and interpersonal skills.
PEI interns work as volunteers and must find their own housing. Ocean Alliance asks each intern to make a minimum commitment of two months with 20+ hours/week. Depending upon availability, full–time staff position for PEI interns will be considered at the request of the PEI.
Cetacean Education Through Awareness (CETA) Program
In 1993 Ocean Alliance formed an affiliation with Cape Ann Whale Watch of Gloucester, Massachusetts (www.caww.com) 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 a program called CETA (Cetacean Education Through Awareness). Run by CETA Program Coordinator and whale watch naturalist Cynde McInnis, CETA 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.
CETA 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
Research Vessel Odyssey Internship
Prerequisite: Prior completion of an internship program offered at the Ocean Alliance.
This internship takes place aboard our 93-foot research vessel, Odyssey. Onboard the vessel, a science intern is responsible for various types of data collection concerning the whales encountered during the voyage. Other duties include physical maintenance of the vessel, cleaning, helm duty and observer watches.
Interns are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the Odyssey. The boat does not look kindly on returning to port so that someone can make a flight, (in case we are with whales, etc.) In light of this, having a flexible schedule for your return time is necessary.
Previous experience with data collection is a must. An ability to live in close quarters with and work well with others is also necessary. This internship position is on a volunteer basis with room and board on the Odyssey provided. Ocean Alliance suggests that interns plan on spending 2 – 4 months onboard to make the experience (and the costs of getting to the ship) worthwhile.
