Soundwatch Boater Education Program – Summer 2026 Internship
Location: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington State, USA (Salish Sea region – Washington State, USA and British Columbia, Canada)
Organization: The Whale Museum (nonprofit organization)
Contract Type: Seasonal Internship (minimum 12 weeks between May and September 2026). Approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. Holiday work required.
Main Description: The Whale Museum is seeking three interns to join the Soundwatch Boater Education Program for the 2026 summer field season. Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region.
Interns will help conduct vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and record data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterize vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. This data is used to inform and update marine mammal management strategies including state, federal, and international vessel regulations.
Intern Responsibilities:
- Perform a variety of tasks related to data recording and photography in the field aboard small research vessels.
- Perform a variety of tasks related to data entry and photo filing in a research office setting.
- Participation and staffing of public outreach and education events throughout the field season.
Requirements:
- Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September.
- Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. Holiday work required.
- At least 18 years of age, able to lift 40 lbs., able to swim, and not easily susceptible to seasickness.
- Ability to spend long hours on the water aboard a small vessel, sometimes in demanding seasonal conditions. Field days occur four to five times a week and may exceed eight hours per day.
- Exhibit strong communication skills, professionalism, and diplomacy.
- Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and Google Workspace.
- US passport, enhanced driver's license (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EID) is required. Documents must be valid through December 2026.
- Up-to-date CPR/First Aid certification.
- Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences.
- Knowledge of the area and Southern Resident killer whales is preferred but not required.
- A state boater license or equivalent safe boating card is preferred but not required.
- Wildlife photography experience is a plus but not required.
Benefits/Conditions: This internship includes a stipend to offset housing costs. Interns are responsible for securing their own housing and their own mode of transportation on San Juan Island. Once accepted, TWM staff will assist interns in locating suitable housing options.
How to Apply: Please provide the following:
- Letter of interest including your start/end date and passport/ID status
- Your resume/CV
- Contact information for three references
Submit application materials via email as one PDF if possible. Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Internship Application (Last Name).
Email: Soundwatch@whalemuseum.org
Deadline: Active review of applications will begin immediately and continue until 31 Dec 2025, or until positions are filled. Final selections made before 15 Feb 2026.
More information: https://whalemuseum.org/pages/soundwatch-boater-education-program | https://www.bewhalewise.org/
