Coastal Advocacy & Monitoring Internship – Fall 2025
Job Description
Organization: SAVE THE BAY
Summary: Save The Bay is seeking a Coastal Advocacy & Monitoring Intern to assist our South County Coastkeeper with water quality monitoring, field work, community engagement, and more! Age 18+
Location: Bay Center in Providence, RI & Save The Bay's South Coast Center in Westerly, RI
Schedule: 10-15 hours/week. Every other Monday from 7:30am-4:30pm starting Sept 8, and a 1-2 day/week commitment otherwise (4–5-hour days). Occasional weekend work may be necessary for special events. Must be able to drive samples to URI Coastal Institute in Kingston, RI, for 3:30 pm delivery time (Sept 8, Sept 22, Oct 6, Oct 20).
Application items: online app, cover letter, resume.
Transportation: CAM interns must have access to their own reliable transportation (i.e., car) between Westerly (both the South Coast Center & Viking Marina) and URI Main Campus in Kingston (for sample drop off). Some travel reimbursement is available on a case-by-case basis.
Deadline: July 1. Rolling interviews/acceptance after this date, though priority will be given to applications received by the July 1 deadline. Decisions will be made by August 25, 2025.
What you will learn:
- Assist with field-based water quality data processing, analysis, and interpretation - associated with URI's Watershed Watch program
- Follow scientific protocols and data entry guidelines to process samples.
- Assist with inventorying and organizing the field, lab, and office supplies at the South Coast Center
- Support the South County Coastkeeper with environmental advocacy and monitoring efforts, including: Assisting habitat restoration team with marsh restoration work
- Cleanup leader training and leading coastal cleanups
- Storm drain marking
- Representing Save The Bay at community tabling events
- Support Coastkeeper social media accounts by generating posts, engaging with followers, and tracking metrics
What we require:
- Education: undergraduate sophomores, juniors, seniors, recent graduates, grad students, and beginning professionals working towards or having obtained a BA/BS or higher degree in biology, education, marine studies, marine affairs, or related fields
- Experience in marine and environmental sciences, both in field and laboratory
- Experience with data analysis and spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel and/or R
- A passion for nonprofit work and the environment
- Willingness to learn, positive attitude, and ability to work independently and as a team
- Ability to do physical, outdoor work; capable of spending up to 4 hours on a small boat, leaning over the edge to put instruments in and out of the water, and working a variety of weather conditions (e.g., light rain and wind).
- Strong time management skills, self-motivated, ability to commit to and complete a project
- Strong communication, writing, and field skills preferred
- On field days: bring a water bottle, sun protection, shoes that can get wet, adequate food/water for a full morning on the water.
Details: We offer unpaid internship opportunities. STB will gladly work with your university if they offer college credit, stipend, or work study opportunities. Check out our Student Guide to Internship Funding for tips!
Note: If you feel unable to commit to a full internship, please check out our habitat restoration and shoreline cleanup volunteer opportunities. "Become a fan" of the page to receive emails when we post new events.
If you have a work study award and would like to earn your award through this position, fill out a community service work study interest form on Hawklink. Sign in, search “Community Engagement” in Organizations – once there, look on our page at “forms” for the interest form. Staff will receive your inquiry and contact you to schedule a referral.
You can also contact the Center for Engaged Learning at engage@rwu.edu or call 401-254-3765.
*Students are prohibited from driving during work-study employment with the limited exception of authorized work-study driver positions.