13-Feb-17 08:04 PM
URL: http://www.reef.org/internship/description
Affiliation: non-MATE
Company / Organization: Reef Environmental Education Foundation
City: Key Largo, FL
Application Deadline: 13-Mar-17
Description:

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP:

Three times a year REEF accepts four individuals to intern at REEF Headquarters in Key Largo, Florida. Interns learn a variety of skills that include non-profit management, public speaking, conservation fieldwork, data management, and marine biology laboratory techniques. REEF interns build relationships with leaders in marine science and conservation, and leave the internship well rounded, experienced, and ready to begin careers in marine conservation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Must have completed at least two years of college
- National and international individuals accepted
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite 
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent people skills – we work with the general public daily
- Detail oriented, ability to take direction and follow through with projects
- Enthusiasm to teach and instill a connection to the marine environment with the public
- Students from disciplines outside marine science are encouraged to apply

- Although not required, basic Open Water SCUBA certification preffered

Requirements:

DUTIES: 

Interns can expect to be exposed to a wide range of activities that vary from season to season. While each internship is unique, typical activities include:

- Performing fish identification surveys while SCUBA diving
- Assisting with invasive lionfish fieldwork, capture and dissection of lionfish
- Assisting with invasive lionfish education, outreach, and control programs
- Presenting seminars for school groups and dive clubs
- Planning and implementing special events like REEF Fest and Lionfish Derbies

- Assisting with Ocean Explorers Summer Camp and creating Camp Content (Summer Internship Only)
- Writing articles for websites, newsletters, blogs and social media
- Helping members of the public that come into REEF Headquarters for information
- Creating flyers and other promotional materials
- Responding to phone calls and emails from REEF members

In addition, interns are encouraged to implement independent projects related to their areas of interest. For example, a graphic design major could create new infographic posters or an education major could create fish identification lesson plans for grade school classrooms. Other past intern projects have related to biological assessment fieldwork and data analysis, language translations of REEF materials, writing, artwork, web design, and GIS mapping.

TIME COMMITMENT:

The internship program is a full-time position that is typically four months in length. Interns will work in the office, dive, or volunteer in the community around 40 hours per week. The office is staffed Monday through Friday during business hours, and weekend work is occasionally required in conjunction with special events like lionfish derbies and community outreach.

When not working at REEF Headquarters, interns are encouraged to dive and volunteer in the community. Each week interns can participate in REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project and dive for a half-day (2 dives) at no cost with one of REEF’s partner Field Stations. Interns are also encouraged to volunteer with local environmental organizations for a full or half day each week.

BENEFITS: 

Although the internship is unpaid, the benefits of interning at REEF are plentiful.

- Exposure to different non-profit educational and environmental organizations
- Experience in local Florida and Caribbean fish identification
- Opportunity to become a member of the Advanced Assessment Team
- Practical field experience in monitoring protocols, procedures, and data management
- Opportunities to teach others about the marine environment
- Treated as a valuable member of the REEF team
- Given diverse tasks and responsibility for important projects
- Networking with important figures in marine science, SCUBA diving, underwater photography, conservation
- Opportunities to dive in the Florida Keys
- College credit, if appropriate
- Letters of recommendation provided upon successful completion of the internship
- Dive training certifications from local dive shops and instructors, where applicable
- Making long lasting friendships with like-minded individuals
- Living in the beautiful, sunny Florida Keys, where the ocean is your backyard!

Point of Contact: Ellie Splain