Marine Debris Intern, Clean Ocean Action – New Jersey
Organization: Clean Ocean Action
Position Title: Marine Debris Intern
Location: Highlands, New Jersey
Dates and compensation: The summer internship is a full time position and is located at Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook Unit and at COA’s office, also located on Sandy Hook, NJ. No housing or transportation is provided. Hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday, except for the day of programs when hours are 8:30am until 4:30pm. Corporate Beach Sweeps are scheduled throughout the summer, therefore, the intern must be able to work outdoors in the extreme heat.; This position is paid.
Application Deadline:
Description: The Marine Debris Internship with Clean Ocean Action (COA) is an exciting opportunity for a student to help address the environmental impacts from pollution. The internship brings together interests in environmental education, science, public policy, and citizen action. The intern will assist with the Corporate Beach Sweeps and statewide 30th Anniversary Beach Sweeps program, as well as with a microplastics research project. The Marine Debris intern will gain experience in education, event coordination, research, public speaking, writing, and organizing.
COA’s Corporate Beach Sweeps Program is a hands-on, environmental awareness, and team building “get-away retreat” with employees from businesses (including those on the Fortune 500 list). Corporations and businesses choose from two separate Corporate Summer Programs which include the Beach Sweeps and the Scavenger Hunt. Beach Sweep participants clean marine debris from beaches at Sandy Hook, find out how and why litter ends-up on the beaches, and learn solutions to prevent pollution. The Scavenger Hunt is a “spin-off” of the signature Beach Sweep program and inspires participants to find specific debris, build sculptures, and talk about the harmful impacts of marine debris. COA’s Corporate Beach Sweeps take place at least once a week from May until October at Sandy Hook.
COA has been a leader in investigating marine debris on the New Jersey coast for the past 30 years. Since the inception of the bi-annual Beach Sweeps in 1985, by collecting data COA turned a two-day per year volunteer effort into a legacy of information. 2015 marks the 30th Anniversary for this program and COA is planning a conference and creating a brand to link marine debris, specifically plastic pollution, with citizen science. The Marine Debris Intern will assist in planning this conference projected to take place in late July or early August.
The summer 2015 Marine Debris Intern will also be responsible for assisting in the organization and coordination of the Corporate Beach Sweeps program along with pre-planning other educational programs. Specifically, the intern will:
Handle the logistics of the Corporate Beach Sweep Program, including
- Attend all Corporate Beach Sweeps
- Organize the logistics and pre-event details of the Corporate Summer Programs (i.e. lunch, transportation, bathroom access, and refreshments).
- Educate and motivate Beach Sweeps and Scavenger Hunt volunteers on site
- Create flyers and other printed materials to promote the program
- Give the educational overview and lead a Corporate Sweeps and Scavenger Hunt at the intern’s last event
- Update data information after each Corporate Sweep, as well as send report and photos to each company
- Produce a Report on the data collected from all the Corporate Beach Sweeps over the course of the summer, and a report from the Scavenger Hunts over the summer
Assist the Marine Science Education Coordinator and Coastal Programs Coordinator with implementation of the 30th Anniversary Beach Sweeps Program, including:
- Collaborate with the marine debris community
- Assist in planning the 30thAnniversary Conference
- Create educational programs to be implemented into schools leading up to the October Beach Sweeps
Assist the Marine Science Education Coordinator with other education programs, including:
- Enhance already established education programs, which include, but are not limited to, creating and updating materials (i.e. brochures and reports)
- Reach-out to potential new contacts
- Begin planning for the Fall Beach Sweeps and Student Summit
- Implementation of a microplastic research project
How to Apply: Applications will be accepted until position is filled. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a list of 3 references with affiliations and contact information to: [email protected] with ‘Marine Debris Internship’ in the subject line
