Internships
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve through leadership in science-based education, restoration, and community outreach. To help students and new professionals gain work experience in this career field, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy offers a variety of internships.
Internship applications are currently closed. The next application period will open Friday, September 1st.
Application periods for 2023 will be as follows: February 1-15 (spring/summer), May 1-15 (summer ONLY), and September 1-15 (fall/winter).
Positions may become available on an asynchronous basis, and will be posted here and on our social media when available. To apply send us a copy of your résumé along with the completed internship application, found at the link below, to internship coordinator Kirsten Haltman (kirsten@bolsachica.org).
At this time, our internships are currently unpaid positions.
Internship Opportunities:
Animal care internship:
Animal care interns will gain experience in caring for live animal ambassadors. Duties include feeding, cleaning enclosures, aquarium maintenance, and other various tasks. Animal care interns will have the opportunity to educate the guests of the interpretive center as they come in to visit. Although your main focus will be animal care, you will also have many opportunities to participate in other areas of the Conservancy in order to ensure a well-rounded experience. NOTE: feeding does involve feeding live mice/rats and crickets, and applicants should be comfortable with this task.
Click here to view the animal care intern description.
Animal care interns should have or currently be working toward a Natural Science or related BA or BS. Previous animal care experience is preferred but not required
Education internship:
Education interns will gain experience in program 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, as well as community outreach events, service events, and
school and camp programs, when applicable. Education interns are also responsible for drafting and scheduling posts for the Conservancy’s social media posts. Although your main focus will be education, you will also have opportunities to participate in other areas of the Conservancy to ensure you achieve a well-rounded experience.
Click here to view the education intern description.
Eyes on Nest Sites (EONS) internship:
EONS interns will gain experience in community science research and data analysis. Activities include participating in a weekly 2-hour monitoring shift, data entry and analysis, and assisting with training new volunteers. EONS interns are also responsible for drafting and scheduling program-specific content for the Conservancy’s social media posts. Although your main focus will be the EONS program, you will also have opportunities to participate in other areas of the Conservancy to ensure you achieve a well-rounded experience.
Click here to view the EONS intern description.
EONS interns should have or currently be working toward a Natural Science or related BA or BS. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and previous knowledge of bird monitoring and behavior is also required for this internship.
Fundraising internship:
Fundraising interns will gain a unique internship experience while working for part of the business side of this nonprofit. You will assist with marketing, planning, and implementation of fundraising events and campaigns. Although your main focus will be fundraising, you will also have the opportunity to
participate in other areas of the Conservancy in order to ensure a well-rounded experience.
Click here to view the fundraising intern description.
Fundraising interns should have or be working toward a degree in business, marketing, communications, public relations, or related field.
Restoration internship:
Restoration interns will gain experience in habitat restoration and community-based service projects. Activities include assisting with habitat restoration events, assist with native plant cultivation as well as invasive removal, maintain restoration statistics, and promote community understanding of native
habitat restoration. Although your main focus will be in restoration, you will also have opportunities to participate in other areas of the Conservancy in order to ensure that you achieve a well-rounded experience.
Intern responsibilities will include but are not limited to: removal of invasive weeds, fire prevention, trail maintenance, vegetation surveys w/ data collection and entry, vegetation GPS mapping, seed collection, and native plant propagation in our nursery. This internship does not include marine restoration.
Click here to view the restoration intern description.
Restoration interns should have or currently be working toward a Natural Science or related BA or BS.
Internship sessions:
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy requires a minimum of 150 hours of work for an internship to be considered complete. However, we also offer longer sessions for those wishing to get more experience:
(1) 250-hour longs session and (2) 500-hour long session.
Not able to commit to an internship? Consider one of our many exciting volunteering opportunities!
