An intern must be committed to working five days for the Ocean Alliance either in the Lincoln Office, the Gloucester Office, or aboard the whale watching boat. After this commitment is fulfilled, interns can work a second job at night or on weekends.

Interns in the past have received class credit by designing their own Independent Study around this internship. We are willing to work with your school to help you get credit.

Interns should have cars so that they can travel to and from the whale watching boat (about 15 minutes away), the Lincoln office (about 45 minutes away), and the Gloucester office (15 minutes away). Although a car is a great thing to have, it is possible to work out a car-pooling schedule among staff members for those who do not own a car.

We have been able to find housing for 3-4 interns in a summer cottage in Rockport--the neighboring town. It is communal living, which we believe enhances the internship because it allows conversations, etc. to continue after the day on the boat is over.

This program is a good balance between education and science. Throughout the course of the summer, interns have the opportunity to develop their teaching skills and to strengthen their interpersonal skills. However, when interns are not circulating the boat, they are expected to collect scientific data on whale behavior and identification. This portion of the trip allows interns to refine their data collection skills and to glimpse into the daily life of a marine mammal scientist.

This internship is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience with whales. It allows college students to form a solid foundation of knowledge about whales that they can use for the rest of their lives. This internship is also an excellent way to meet other people who have dedicated their lives to marine science. All in all, the Field Research and Environmental Education Internship is a great first step to a career in marine science or education.

Interns must be comfortable on small ocean-going vessels. Whale watches are rarely cancelled so interns must be prepared for various types of weather conditions. That said our whale watch boat is 110 feet long and a very good sea boat.

         Colleges and Majors of Past Interns