Current Internships
Coastal Programs Internship:
Aug – Oct 2025 45+ Hrs — Applications due by midnight July 25th —
Are you enthusiastic about stewarding our coasts? Coastal Cleanup Month is one of the largest cleanup events of the year. It originated at the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) over 45 years ago and has since become an international event. The NEC is Humboldt County’s Coastal Cleanup Coordinator and each year we work with local non-profits, community members, and hundreds of volunteers to pick up thousands of pieces of trash around our community. We’re looking for an enthusiastic intern to help promote and support Coastal Cleanup Month and other ongoing NEC programs.
This Fall 2025 the NEC is offering a PAID, in-person Coastal Programs internship ($16.50/hour) Focus will be on Coastal Cleanup Month 2025
The internship will be 4-5 hours/week, primarily on Saturdays between 9-2, for a total of 45 hours, with the possibility to extend. Internship or course credit may be available depending on your department offerings, so please consult with your faculty advisor.
Responsibilities:
- Promote Coastal Cleanup Month (September 2025), EcoNews, & other NEC ongoing programs & events via tabling & flyer distribution
- Assist with Coastal Cleanup Month (CCM) events, including Zero Waste Lending Library distribution & maintenance
- Assist with CCM data collection & assessment for publication in EcoNews
Qualifications:
- Availability during Fall 2025 (August – mid October), including Saturdays from August 9th – September 27th
- Demonstrate skills in communication and enthusiasm for promoting NEC programs
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Ability to remain flexible and organized
- Preferred knowledge of and passion for environmental justice issues, community organizing, and activism
- Ability to transport supplies with own vehicle
Application process:
Applications are due July 25, 2025. Email cover letter, resume with relevant experience and skills, a letter of recommendation (if available), and schedule of availability to advocacy@yournec.org. Call to confirm receipt.
BIPOC students highly encouraged to apply!
yournec.org/internships | 707-822-6918 | advocacy@yournec.org
Past Internships
Plankton Monitoring Internship:
April – June/Oct 2024 45-90 Hrs — Applications due by midnight March 17th —
Are you interested in the little creatures found in our Bay? Do you have microscope skills and a drive to collect some water samples, rain or shine? We’re hiring an intern to help us administer our new plankton monitoring program! We’re looking for someone who can commit to roughly three hours a week, or every other week, for a total of 45 hours. The internship has the option of being extended to 90 hours and is a repeatable internship. The majority of time each week will be spent identifying what’s in the samples, but they will need to be collected each week, rain or shine. Some time will also be set aside for volunteer outings as well as some educational presentations about the cool things you find!
*if interested in biweekly sampling, the internship will extend through October
The Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) is hosted by NOAA across the nation and is made up of community-based volunteers that get hands-on opportunities to engage in scientific data collection. It has been helpful in identifying and monitoring harmful algal blooms, and even used for microplastic identification in some areas. We’re looking for an intern that can lead the program through the NEC, and train other local volunteers to help continue the citizen science data collection. To read more about the program and plankton check out last month’s Coastal Column, or head over to NOAA’s website.
The Northcoast Environmental Center is offering a FLEXIBLE, PAID, IN-PERSON internship ($16/hour for 45 hours) stating this spring 2024.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with plankton sampling in the field.
- Assist with taxa ID via microscope.
- Help other volunteers with taxa ID and microscope use.
- Input data into the Phytoplankton Monitoring Network database.
- Clean and maintain sampling gear and lab supplies.
- Assist with public presentations and educational visits as necessary.
Qualifications:
- Availability during Spring 2024 (April – June), or if electing for biweekly sampling, then availability from April-October for a total of 45 hours.
- Ability to commit to consistent sampling weekly or biweekly (day and time may vary each week, so long as samples are collected each week, or every other week).
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Experience with microscopes is required, and those with experience identifying plankton are encouraged to apply.
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Willingness to train and assist volunteers and give public educational presentations.
- Ability to transport plankton samples and equipment to and from sampling site from the NEC office with own vehicle, or via public transit.
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This internship will be fully in-person, and some flexibility is required.
- Internship NOT restricted to students.
Application process:
Applications are due March 17, 2024. Email cover letter, resume with relevant experience and skills, a letter of recommendation (if available), and schedule of availability to nec@yournec.org. Call to confirm receipt.
BIPOC students highly encouraged to apply!
yournec.org/internships | 707-822-6918 | nec@yournec.org
Coastal Programs Internship:
Fall 2023 (August – October) — Applications due by midnight July 30th —
Are you passionate about keeping waste out of our waterways? Are you interested in community organizing, data analysis, and environmental justice? The NEC is the California Coastal Commission’s County Coordinator for Coastal Cleanup Month, and we’re looking for an intern to help put on this year’s events!
The Northcoast Environmental Center is offering a FLEXIBLE, PAID, IN-PERSON internship ($15.50/hour for 45 hours) for Fall 2023.
Responsibilities:
- Promote ongoing volunteer programs and Coastal Cleanup Month (September 2023) via social media, infographic design, flyer distribution, and tabling.
- Assist with Coastal Cleanup Month (CCM) events, including Zero Waste Lending Library distribution and maintenance.
- Assist with data collection, compilation and presentation.
Qualifications:
- Availability during Fall 2023 (August – October), including Saturdays during the month of September.
- Ability to remain flexible and prioritize multiple tasks
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrated skills in communication and collaboration
- Preferred knowledge of and passion for environmental justice issues, community organizing, and activism.
- Ability to transport supplies and waste from cleanups with own vehicle.
- Internship NOT restricted to students.
Application process:
Applications are due July 30, 2023. Email cover letter, resume with relevant experience and skills, a letter of recommendation (if available), and schedule of availability to nec@yournec.org. Call to confirm receipt.
BIPOC students highly encouraged to apply!
yournec.org/internships | 707-822-6918 | nec@yournec.org
Paid Internships (Spring 2023):
- EcoNews Journalist Internship ($15.50/hour for 45 hours)
- Please provide writing samples when applying!
To Apply:
For Spring 2023 the NEC is offering FLEXIBLE, PAID internships ($15.50/hour). Each internship will have a focus on environmental justice BIPOC students are highly encouraged to apply.
Each internship is expected to complete 45 hours for the semester. Schedule is flexible. Internship or course credit may be available depending on your department offerings, so please consult with your faculty advisor.
Qualifications:
- Availability during the Spring 2023 semester (January – May).
- Ability to remain flexible and prioritize multiple tasks
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrated skills in communication and collaboration
- Preferred knowledge of and passion for environmental justice issues, community organizing, and activism.
Application process:
Applications are due January 9, 2023. Email cover letter, resume, writing samples, schedule of availability, and a letter of recommendation (if available) to nec@yournec.org.