Position Description
Restoration interns will gain experience in hands-on habitat restoration and community-based service projects. Typical activities include boots-on-the-ground habitat restoration through removal of invasive plants, habitat monitoring, and promoting community involvement and understanding of native habitat restoration. This internship focuses on terrestrial habitats, and does not include marine environments.

This position involves daily physical work. Applicants must be able to work outdoors in uneven terrain for several hours at a time, as well as lift and carry up to 50 pounds when needed.

Spring 2026 Update: We are currently accepting applications for Habitat Restoration interns.

Requirements

• Applicants must have or be enrolled in a related degree to be considered.
• Knowledge of California native flora recommended, but not required.
• 200 hours total minimum: 10-15 hr/week commitment.
• Due to seasonal conditions, restoration activities typically take place in the early morning. Applicants with availability between Tuesday through Saturday in the morning hours (8:00 AM – 1:00 PM) are preferred.

Primary Responsibilities

• Leading volunteer groups in invasive plant removal, trash removal or other restoration activities.
• Removal of invasive weeds with hand tools and herbicides.
• Strategic brush removal for fire prevention.
• Trail maintenance with use of gas-powered mowers and trimmers.
• Occasional vegetation surveys, and GPS mapping as needed.
• Occasional data entry including creation of graphs and figures as needed.
• Assist in development of outreach materials as needed.

Position Description
Education interns will gain experience in development and implementation of informal and formal science education programs. Activities include leading guided tours of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, assisting with Interpretive Center exhibits, community outreach events, service events, and informal school and camp programs, when applicable. Education interns are also responsible for drafting and scheduling posts for the Conservancy’s social media presence.

Spring 2026 Update: We are currently accepting applications for Science Education interns.

Requirements

• Applicants must have or be enrolled in a related degree to be considered.
• Must be available to work at least one Saturday per month.
• Ongoing, 250 hour minimum.

Primary Responsibilities
Intern responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Regularly interacting and interfacing with the public, usually children, in an informal educational setting.
• Leading guided hikes of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve to visiting groups.
• Assisting and/or leading participation in public outreach activities at various fairs, festivals, and other locales.
• Developing educational curricula for educational programs.
• (Summer) Assist with the Conservancy’s Summer Curiosity Camp program.

Position Description
This position will provide interpretive experience to guests about our animal ambassadors as well as assist with feeding and maintenance of animal ambassadors. This position will also assist in bird and other animal surveys monthly, as well as entering and validating data. Ideal candidate is interested in pursuing organismal biology, zoology, ornithology or related degree, and is comfortable speaking to a small crowd.

Spring 2026 Update: We are currently accepting applications for Animal Monitoring & Husbandry interns.

Requirements

• Applicants must have or be enrolled in a related degree to be considered. Bird identification experience is strongly encouraged.
• Ongoing, 200 hour minimum.
• Must have at least two days of availability per week, Saturday or Sunday + 1 weekday preferred. Must be able to attend one of the following animal survey days monthly: 2nd Friday, 3rd Friday, or 2nd Sunday. Each of these survey shifts is an early morning shift.
• This position requires your own vehicle or reliable transportation to survey sites.

Primary Responsibilities
Intern responsibilities will distributed accordingly:

• ~25% providing interpretive information to guests about animal ambassadors, monitoring programs, native species etc., including assisting with educational programs as needed.
• ~25% providing husbandry to live animal ambassadors including snakes, lizards, aquarium fish. This will include feeding frozen mice to snakes, live crickets to reptiles, and frozen fish and shellfish to aquarium fish. Occasional aquarium upkeep.
• ~20% assisting with avian species and other animal surveys.
• ~10% Lead volunteers as needed.
• ~10% Data entry and quality control, including the creation of graphs, tables and figures when needed.
• ~10% Creation of outreach and interpretive materials (flyers, presentations, social media etc.)