Spring 2024 Community-Based Internship and Volunteer Opportunities for Students attending Semester by the Bay
Several Federal, State, and non-profit organizations in the Homer area offer internship and volunteer opportunities for students participating in Semester by the Bay.
Internships must be applied for and taken for 3 credits of Biology A495A Internship in the Biological Sciences. Internship placement is not guaranteed! The quality of your application materials is important. Advisors are happy to look over your application materials and/or help you prepare for interviews. Contact Ken Goldman for assistance.
**Internship placement is prioritized for Spring Semester students admitted to the Conservation Ecology Occupational Endorsement Certificate.
***Students placed in internships are not covered by host agencies' Workers' Compensation or General Liability insurance.
AMNWR, IOVC
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
1 position available
Environmental Education + Visitor Outreach Internship
Description and duties: serve 20 hours/week presenting k-12 educational and interpretive programs, serving as a greeter at the visitor center and providing information about the area, and contributing to the Refuge’s communication platforms, including newsletter and social media. In addition to these primary duties, the intern will also have the opportunity to create original educational activities, develop educational bulletin boards, assist in bookstore operations, and assist with special events. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to: present interpretive programs, rooted in conservation biology, in an engaging manner and appropriate to the audience; communicate high level of conservation literacy utilizing a variety of media; compose engaging, public facing, conservation education related media content; adapt written and verbal communication appropriately for a variety of target audiences; explain the biological significance of the Refuge’s history and resources, within a local, national, and global context; assist audiences towards high-level concepts including resource protection, stewardship, and global issues.
*Free government bunkhouse housing provided by internship host. Approximately 1 mile from campus. Requires 20 hours/week volunteer internship service.
ADF&G
Alaska Department of Fish & Game - Fisheries
1 position available
Fisheries Intern
These internships will offer students the opportunity to gain exposure to the importance of sport fisheries and aquatic resources in Alaska, particularly on the Kenai Peninsula. These interns will work with a variety of fisheries technicians, biologists, and managers that are monitoring Homer area salmon, groundfish, and shellfish resources that support Alaska Department of Fish and Game in managing of some of the largest sport fisheries in Alaska. Interns will gain hands-on fisheries experience within field, laboratory, and office settings with a large variety of assignments throughout the internship that will lead to a well-rounded understanding of fisheries management in Alaska. These internships will be 10-20 hours a week from January through May but have the possibility of extending into the summer. Field work will be primarily with razor clam abundance surveys and the laboratory and data experience can be tailored towards the intern’s interests.
Qualifications/Requirements: Interest in fisheries management/research. Students need to be comfortable working in inclement weather, carrying heavy gear (up to 50 lbs), and flexible with adjusting schedules and variable start times.
CACS
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS)
2 positions available
Environmental Monitoring Intern
Description and duties: An environmental monitoring intern with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies will perform both terrestrial and marine monitoring tasks at the Wynn Nature Center, Inspiration Ridge Preserve, Homer Harbor, and Peterson Bay Field Station with an emphasis on data gathering in the field. The monitoring program includes snow surveying, invasive species monitoring, camera trapping, and Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Monitoring as well as assisting in an ongoing school and community waste reduction composting and mycelium packaging program.
*Housing Available through internship host
Environmental Education Intern
2 positions available
*Housing Available through internship host
DPW
City of Homer, Public Works and Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
GIS Hydromodel Internship
1 position available
As part of the City of Homer’s ongoing sustainability efforts, we are seeking an intern to assist the city GIS Technician in developing a hydro-model to evaluate drainage patterns and stormwater volumes within and around the City of Homer for the purpose of informing stormwater management and urban development decisions. Applying students must already have some GIS experience.
Duties will include:
- Working with ArcGIS spatial analysis tools
- Working with LiDAR
- Working with GPS and ArcGIS Field Maps
- Ground truth remote sensing data to refine spatial accuracy
- Ground truth work will be conducted in freezing to below freezing conditions and possibly in rough terrain
Peatland Internship
1 position available
The City of Homer sustainability intern will help the city, in collaboration with the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, make continued progress on environmental sustainability by focusing on the conservation of local peatlands for the purpose of storm-water management and carbon sequestration.
During the course of the semester, the intern will:
- Work outdoors in freezing to below freezing conditions in snowy, wet and rough terrain
- Collect/compile data related to groundwater infiltration in peatlands by measuring recharge rates in monitoring wells
- Research and prepare informational materials about the important environmental and social amenities peatlands provide
- Develop and participate in public outreach and education related to sustainability issues
*Housing may be available through this internship host
FWS - HIDDEN
S Fish & Wildlife Service
Sea Otter Intern
Description and duties: Conduct stranding response efforts for live and dead stranded sea otters in the Kachemak Bay region on an “on call” basis. Intern is expected to work an average of 20 hours per week (some may be more, some may be less). Duties will include responding to stranding calls, conducting beach surveys for stranded sea otters, collecting data (Level A assessments) and biological samples from carcasses as needed, providing assistance in carcass removal and proper disposal (must be able to lift 50+ lbs), assisting in shipping fresh dead otters and other sea otter cases of interest for necropsy, maintaining/inventorying any biological samples or specimens collected or entrusted, maintaining/inventorying field gear, cooperating and maintaining communication with Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) volunteers and other Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) volunteers, supporting live otter response and providing live otter observations as needed in coordination with ASLC, participating in public outreach and communication, creating outreach products, checking for errors in data collection and entry, and assuring completion and organization of all level A data and sea otter photos.
This position may require the safe operation of and/or riding in FWS vehicles and thus proof of valid driver’s license.
Due to the physical demands (heavy lifting, bending, kneeling), outdoor and/or remote work environment, and potential for exposure to zoonoses in this position, the intern is expected to follow safety guidelines and use appropriate personal protective gear (gloves, protective clothing, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, etc.)
The intern is also expected to abide by COVID-19 related health mandates and guidance put forth by the FWS, local and state governments, and the CDC. Working with federal agencies and in federal buildings requires full vaccination against COVID-19.
HSWCD
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Homer Soil and Water Conservation District
Invasive Species Program Intern
Homer Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking an intern to assist with our Invasive Species Program ~10 hrs/week. Tasks will include collaborating with partner agencies on regional invasive species communication & outreach efforts; enhancing invasive species social media outreach on the Kenai Peninsula; and updating species FAQs on our website.
KBNERR
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
1 Position available
Education Intern
Education Intern: As the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Education Intern, you will help plan, coordinate, and implement various youth and adult programming activities throughout the Spring. This may include preparing for in-school activities, field trips to remote study sites, and assisting with community monitoring programs, such as plankton and water quality monitoring. Most work will be with middle or high school aged youth. Qualifications/Requirements: Interest in education and learning. Desire to work with children of various ages. Flexible with change and adjusting schedules.
*Housing may be available through this internship host
KBNERR - HIDDEN
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Harbor Porpoise Photo-Identification, Data Entry and Catalog Intern Intern
Interns will assist with and gain experience in marine mammal boat-based surveys and processing data generated during each research cruise. This will include: scouting with binoculars; collecting survey data, including GPS tracklines, pins and map creation; using KBC digital cameras and GoPros to take high-quality images and videos; sort, edit and process images and videos of harbor porpoises for photo-identification, new catalog additions and mark-recapture (resightings); water quality assessments (e.g., temperature, pH, turbidity). Data, images and videos will need be entered and processed regularly each week. Potential experience with grant writing process, if student interest and time permits. Interns will work approximately 10-15 hours a week with fieldwork concentrated March through May; data management will occur each week through May. There is a possibility of staying longer during the summer after classes end. Students need to be comfortable working on boats and in inclement weather, and carrying heavy camera equipment safely.
KHLT - HIDDEN
Kachemak Heritage Land Trust (KHLT)
Land Steward Intern
NOAA
NOAA
1 position available
Oceanography Intern
Work 10-15 hr/week mostly remotely assisting NOAA ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) scientists looking at oceanographic changes (data analysis and visualization) and how they relate to recent biological changes in Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet. Knowledge of Matlab and/or R software helpful, but not required. Opportunity to participate in boat-based field work for oceanographic surveys (day trips or multi-day trip) may exist during the semester. Note: Weekly time commitment varies throughout semester, depending on student schedule, with field work opportunities available
Sweetgale Meadworks & Cider House
Sweetgale Meadworks & Cider House
1 position available
Sweetgale Meadworks & Cider House Intern
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Master the techniques involved in predictable wild fermentation of meads using nothing but water & honey, with optional fruit, inoculated with carefully maintained, fruit-specific cultures of native yeasts.
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Collect samples of four different mead batches at the start of fermentation, at 5 days, 10 days, and 60 days, filter out microorganisms at KBC lab, and send the samples to UAA for DNA sequencing.
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Prepare a report outlining which microorganisms (mainly local AK yeast and lactobacteria and acetobacter species) predominate in the various stages of the fermentation of each of the four mead varieties.
NOTE: MUST be 21 years of age to apply for this internship
WWR - HIDDEN
Winged Whale Research
Humpback Whale Research
Help match, catalog and document whale sightings and individual identifications and movements. Work in Kachemak Bay, Prince William Sound and North Gulf Coast will be included.