Opportunities
Student Artist: Yoonji Lim
One of the most common questions we are asked by our alumni and students is: How can I stay involved? This space is an evolving answer to that question, and provides opportunities for you to dive deeper into ocean science and conservation, connect with other young creatives and activists, and showcase your research or campaign at global events.
Student Artist: Yoonji Lim
EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES* 🔎
*This list is by no means exhaustive; you should explore opportunities at your local aquariums, science centers, community arts organizations, and universities.
Have a resource or event to share? Contact us.
Volunteer, Internship & Employment Opportunities
COLLEGE STUDENTS +
Alaska
- 2022 OceanEcho 30×30 Fellowship – Deadline: September 28
California
- 2022 OceanEcho 30×30 Fellowship – Deadline: September 28
- Aquarium of the Pacific: African American Scholar Program – Deadline: November 25
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Internships
- Turtle Island Restoration Network Residential Internships
- Marine Conservation Institute Internships
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- 2022 OceanEcho 30×30 Fellowship – Deadline: September 28
Florida
- REEF Spring 2023 Marine Conservation Internship – Deadline: October 23
- Coral Restoration Foundation Spring 2023 Internship (January 2, 2023-April 30, 2023) – Deadline: October 28
- von Arx Wildlife Hospital: Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
- Marine Discovery Center: Jobs & Internships
- Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center Internships
- Reef Relief Internships
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center Internships
- Coral Restoration Foundation: Coral Conservation and Reef Restoration Internship
Hawaii
- 2022 OceanEcho 30×30 Fellowship – Deadline: September 28
Massachusetts
- National Marine Life Center: Marine Animal Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Intern – Deadline: November 1 for Spring Semester
- New England Aquarium Internships
Puerto Rico
- 2022 OceanEcho 30×30 Fellowship – Deadline: September 28
Rhode Island
Washington
Washington, DC
- White House Council on Environmental Quality Internship (Spring, Summer, Fall)
United States
- Alliance for Climate Education Influencer Campaign – Pays cash to content creators on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube who are ready to engage their audience in tackling the climate crisis
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities
- NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: Destination Marketing/Communications for Ocean Recreation & Tourism Volunteer Internship (Remote)
- Plastic Tides Internships (Remote)
- This is Zero Hour: Social Media Team
International
- Energy Innovation Capital VC Industry Research & Data Analytics Remote Externship – Externs will conduct a detailed analysis of the energy sector; requires 10 hours per week for eight weeks – Deadline: October 7
- Greenpeace USA Strategy Analysis Remote Externship
- Thriving Corals offers opportunities for students to switch roles with teachers and design classes themselves; internships available in education, writing, communication, and online course development
- Indo Ocean Project Internships (Indonesia)
- Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation Internships (Greece)
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
United States
- This is Zero Hour: Social Media Team
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities
International
- Thriving Corals offers opportunities for students to switch roles with teachers and design classes themselves; internships available in education, writing, communication, and online course development
Educational Opportunities: Beyond the Classroom
COLLEGE STUDENTS +
International
- The School for Field Studies: Environmental Study Abroad Programs
- Cape Eleuthera Institute: Gap Year (Bahamas)
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Massachusetts
- Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids: The Blue Crew, a virtual club, where students in grades 5-8 with a passion for the ocean to come together to learn about marine science
International
- The Island School: Fall, Spring, or Summer Academic Terms (South Eleuthera, Bahamas)
- Marine Science & Nautical Training Academy: Field Studies in Coral Reef Biology (British Virgin Islands)
Campaigns, Conferences & Events
Florida
- 2022 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (December 10) provides youth the opportunity to learn from scientists and conservationists about current threats facing marine ecosystems, and to collaborate with peers and mentors to develop action plans for their own ocean ocean conservation projects
International
- International Coastal Cleanup – Clean up your local beach, stream, park, or neighborhood, while recording what you find to help inform research and legislation across the world
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation’s Conservation Challenge – Complete conservation-oriented challenges to earn exclusive stickers—badges of honor for completing each challenge. Jump into citizen science, meet other fish geeks, and have fun learning about ocean life!
Contests, Grants & Scholarships
United States
- YoungArts National Competition identifies the most accomplished young artists ages 15-18 in the visual, literary, and performing arts, and provides them with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers – Deadline: October 14
- Earth Science Week: “Geoscience for Sustainable Development Goals” Essay Contest – Deadline: October 14
- Earth Science Week: “Our Sustainable World” Visual Arts Contest – Deadline: October 14
- Earth Science Week: “Sustainability in Action” Photography Contest – Deadline: October 14
- Wyland National Art & Classroom Mural Challenge – Period: October 1-December 1
- 2023 Scholastic Awards, the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12 – Deadline: varies between December and January, depending on your region
- BoatUS Foundation Grassrooots Grants Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations, boating clubs, and student groups for projects that promote safe and/or clean boating
- 53-Word Story Contest – Deadline: 21st day of each month
- National Ocean Sciences Bowl
International
- Gaia Literary Magazine is looking for writing submissions for its spring issue: Drought
- Earth Science Week: “Striving for Sustainability Globally” Video Contest – Deadline: October 14
- 2023 Science Without Borders Art Challenge: “The Sixth Extinction” – Deadline: March 6, 2023
- Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award honors filmmakers whose stories honor people working to protect the world’s oceans – Deadline: Ongoing
- Breakout Film Festival: Monthly Short Film Contest – Deadline: Last day of each month
- MY HERO Contests: Opportunities to share your art, poems, films, songs, or stories about a hero with a global community – Various Deadlines
- Something or Other Publishing: Open call for short story submissions
- Youth Service America: Everyday Young Hero
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Youth-Led Initiatives & Leadership Opportunities
- Aquarium of the Pacific: African American Scholar Program (California) – Deadline: November 25
- 2022-23 Plastic Tides Global Youth Mentor Program gives 12-18 year-old students the opportunity to become Youth Leaders and execute an independent project that creates positive environmental change in their community, with support from adult mentors – Deadline: Rolling
- EarthEcho Water Challenge, which runs annually from March 22 (the United Nations World Water Day) through December, builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local waterbodies.
- EarthEcho International: Ocean Echo 30×30 – Host an educational event in your community to join other youth from around the world in helping to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 through education/outreach, coastal habitat restoration, and policy action.
- Covalence – Global Youth Network provides a platform that enables youth who care about climate change and justice to connect with other like-minded individuals
- MobilizeGreen Youth Conservation Programs offer paid work opportunities for diverse high school students to build leadership confidence, learn new outdoor skills, and make a real difference to the world.
- Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) Mentorship Program pairs high school and undergraduate students with SWMS members to guide them in academic and career decisions.
- The Colorization Collective – This youth-led group assists teen artists of color by providing participants with resources and a community of peers and mentors who look like them and share their experiences, with the goal of creating and promoting diversity in the art world through inclusive and accessible means. Check out their outreach and mentorship opportunities!
- FXB Climate Advocates – Join a group of young people who are passionate and committed to climate change: engage with peers, interact with activists, and launch individual or joint advocacy projects.
- Our Climate: “Put a Price On It” Action Team – Join a network of volunteers who are working to advocate for fair and effective carbon pricing policy. You’ll be added to the listserv for occasional updates, included in the Facebook group, and have the opportunity to work on the most important climate fight of our time.
- Project Green Schools: Youth Leadership Council – National Youth Council students are difference-makers who are invited to participate in important environmental regional, national, and world events.
- SEVENSEAS Media University Student Ocean Ambassadors – One ambassador (or team of ambassadors) per university will be responsible for hosting an ocean-themed event on campus each month to spread the word about ocean conservation and sustainable tourism.
- Sunrise Movement – A movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.
- Survey for the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis – Schools for Climate Action and the National Children’s Campaign are working with the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis to collect data and stories from youth climate activists.
- Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s Ocean Leadership Program – Be part of one of the world’s largest network of ocean advocates, joining forces with young leaders taking action in over 140 countries.
- ThinkOcean: Upper Leadership Team – ThinkOcean is an international network of young environmentalists that has more than 40 chapters in 8 different countries. It is searching for college and high school students with a passion for the environment to help organize initiatives such as legislative lobbying, grassroots organizing, awareness campaigns, and hands-on conservation initiatives. Read more about its work and fill out this form to apply.
- US Youth Climate Strike State Lead – Become a State Lead to help build the people power needed to stop climate change by being part of the grassroots movement taking on the fossil fuel industry.
- Zero Hour: Education Campaign Ambassador – Spread the word of Zero Hour and its work around climate and environmental justice in your communities and in your schools.
Youth Art & Writing Communities
