Opportunities
Student Artist: Malie Kozlowski
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: Malie Kozlowski
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 +
California
- Marine Mammal Center: Marine Mammal Response & Husbandry Internship (June-August)
- Marine Conservation Institute Internships
Connecticut
- New England Science & Sailing Foundation: AmeriCorps STEM Education Ambassadors (August 2021-August 2022)
Florida
- Canterbury School of Florida Marine Studies Department:Â
- Marine Discovery Center: Assistant Aquarist/Educator Internship​: Education (May-August)
- Marine Discovery Center: Summer Camp Assistant Internship (June 1-August 13)
- Coral Restoration Foundation Internship (September 6-December 18) – Deadline: June 28
- Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center: Summer Camp Counselor (June 7-July 30)
- Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center Internships
- Reef Relief Internships
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center Internships
Maine
Maryland
- Maryland Sea Grant: Community-Engaged Internship (June-August)
- NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: Constituent & Legislative Affairs Volunteer Internship
Massachusetts
North Carolina
- North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island: Special Activities Instructor (May-August) – Deadline: April 12
- North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island: Special Activities Instructor (May-November) – Deadline: April 12
Washington
Washington, DC
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)
- Ocean Conservancy SInternships (Remote)
- Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internship aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean, and marine sciences by offering paid internships to students from under-resourced, underrepresented and/or indigenous and tribal populations
- This is Zero Hour: Social Media Team
- World Wildlife Fund: Education Content Intern (Remote)
International
- Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation Internships (Greece)
- MARINElife Fundraising Volunteers (United Kingdom)
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Massachusetts
- Earthwatch’s Girls in Science Fellowship (August 8-14 or August 15-21) – Deadline: May 14
United States
Educational Opportunities: Beyond the Classroom
COLLEGE STUDENTS +
International
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences: Summer Courses –Â Deadline: May 15
- The School for Field Studies: Environmental Study Abroad Programs
- Cape Eleuthera Institute: Gap Year (Bahamas)
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Colorado
Massachusetts
- Harvard Chan C-CHANGE Youth Summits on Climate Change and Public Health (Boston, July 18-24 and/or July 25-31): The Summits will train students to be leaders in their communities through workshops, field-based activities, and meetings with scientists, health and policy experts, academics, energy innovators, and more.
- Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids: Marine Megafauna Week (Chatham, August 9-13): Students in grades 5-8 will participate in hands-on ocean scavenger hunts at local estuaries, conduct a scientific study of marine mammals, and create a music project
New Jersey
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
United States
- Boston Latin School Youth Climate Action Network’s 15th Annual Climate Summit (April 17, Virtual)
- Power Shift Convergence 21 (April 16-18, New Orleans): A space for youth activists to get trained on critical skills and grow powerful campaigns for climate, environmental, and social justice for the coming decade, with a focus on the impacts of structural oppression such as environmental racism and the effects of climate disasters, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color
- National Marine Educators Association Student Conference (July 15, Virtual) will include a career panel, opportunity for networking, and student presentations of projects related to the marine environment—submit your presentation proposal by May 7th!
International
- International Coral Reef Symposium: Youth Leaders Workshop (July 18-23, Germany)
Contests, Grants & Scholarships
United States
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Earth Day Poster Contest –Â Deadline: April 19
- The Marjot Foundation (New England and New York) awards $5,000 grants to high school students to complete a one-year field and/or laboratory research experiment that they have designed –Â Deadline: April 20
- OurEcho Challenge empowers middle school students to identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect, or repair those natural resources – Deadline: April 22
- President’s Environmental Youth Award, recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth – Deadline: April 30
- Project Green Schools’ and National Grid’s Green Difference Maker Scholarship (Massachusetts & Rhode Island) will provide a $2,500 scholarship to graduating seniors in who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the fields of energy and environment –Â Deadline: May 9
- 53-Word Story Contest – Deadline: 21st day of each month
- National Ocean Sciences Bowl
International
- Imagine 2200 climate-fiction contest seeks short stories that envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress – Deadline: April 12
- Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award honors filmmakers whose stories honor people working to protect the world’s oceans – Deadline: May 1
- Boat U.S. Foundation: Recast & Recycle Contest, a competition to reward the best ideas on how to make recycling of fishing line and soft bait more efficient, more attractive and more accessible –Â Deadline: May 14
- Breakout Film Festival: Monthly Short Film Contest –Â Deadline: Last day of each month
- Something or Other Publishing: Open Call for Short Story Submissions
- MY HERO Contests, opoprtunities to share your art, poems, films, songs, or stories about a hero with a global community
- Youth Service America: Everyday Young Hero
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Youth-Led Initiatives & Leadership Opportunities
- EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council, an international team of young environmental leaders who play a key role leading EarthEcho’s education programs while developing and implementing campaigns to mobilize peers worldwide to protect our water planet – Deadline: May 3
- 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.
- Zero Hour 101 online training sessions (March) – Learn how to become better organizers within your communities through sessions on topics such as movement building, finances, base building, and more!
- 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!
- 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.
- 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 –Â 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:Â 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
