An internship at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center offers students the opportunity to gain professional experience while working hands on with endangered and threatened sea turtles.

• Our signature Internship offers college students and recent graduates an in-depth, hands-on opportunity to learn about sea turtle husbandry and conservation. Additionally, interns practice science communication by delivering environmental education programs and public tours. Interns also learn about nonprofit organizations through an in-depth project involving education, marketing, communications, facilities, or another area of interest. Free, shared housing is provided. Other expenses are the responsibility of the intern. The summer internship is 11 weeks, 40-50 hours per week, with the opportunity to add 1-3 weeks at the end of the internship. The fall and spring semester internships are 11-18 weeks, 20-50 hours per week.
• *** NEW - Stipend Available! Full-time interns (40-50 hours per week, 11 week minimum) who meet all internship expectations, complete all internship responsibilities, and work the entire 11 weeks will receive a $1,100 stipend at the end of their internship to help defray the costs of participating. This stipend is in addition to free shared housing, valued at $400/month.
  • Part-time interns (20-30 hours per week, 11 week minimum) who meet all internship expectations, complete all internship responsibilities, and work the entire 11 weeks will receive a $550 stipend at the end of their internship to help defray the costs of participating. This stipend is in addition to free shared housing, valued at $400/month.

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation, Conservation, and Education Intern Responsibilities:

• Cut and weigh food for turtles (i.e., fish, squid, other types of seafood, vegetables); Feed turtles
• Change tank water, scoop and clean tanks
• Hold and restrain turtles
• Weigh turtles
• Maintain the water and life support system
• Maintain accurate records (e.g., food chart, therapy pool, weekly weighing, admission of injured turtles)
• Wash and dry sea turtle dishes; Wash and fold sea turtle laundry
• Clean, disinfect, sweep, mop the facility including restrooms, hallways, the animal food prep kitchen, the break room, treatment areas, public spaces, etc.
• Answer the phone and take accurate messages
• Educate the public and lead visitor tours
• Supervise junior interns and students in summer sea turtle camp
• Assist with medical care as needed
• Survey an assigned beach segment at sunrise, one morning a week looking for sea turtle tracks; Assist with protecting any nests found
• Other duties as assigned

Intern Requirements:

• College undergraduate or recent graduate, minimum 18 years of age
• Major in environmental or biological sciences or similar
• Solid computer and data entry skills
• Excellent communication and organization skills
• Ability to understand and follow detailed instructions
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Positive attitude with a desire to learn
• Flexible schedule
• Valid drivers' license preferred
• Personal laptop or tablet highly recommended
• The ability to get along well with others in a shared housing situation
• Minimum 11-14 week commitment, depending on semester of service
• Covid vaccination
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds
• Ability to pass a background check

Upcoming 2023 Internship Dates:

• Summer: 5/21/23 - 8/5/23 (must be available the entire 11 weeks), with optional 1-2 week extension
• Fall: 9/24/23 - 12/31/23 (flexible)

Life as an Intern at KBSTRRC

Interns handle all aspects of the daily care and husbandry of sea turtles in rehabilitation. The daily schedule includes morning food, vitamin preparation, and feeding the sea turtles. Feeding is followed by cleaning the tanks and providing care to individual sea turtles as needed. This might involve assisting with medical and/or special feeding procedures and administering medication. Throughout most of the year, KBSTRRC is open to visitors. During this time, interns can introduce visitors to the sea turtles in rehabilitation; explain their injuries, ailments, and prognosis; and share our organization's history and operations. For summer interns, mentoring junior interns and summer sea turtle camp participants is an important aspect of the internship. Some days also include beach survey work early in the morning, locating and identifying sea turtle tracks and relocating nests when necessary. Some nights include searching for nesting females, nest sitting in anticipation of a nest emergence, and post hatch nest data collection. Interns also have the opportunity to dive more deeply into running a nonprofit organization by completing a project involving education, marketing, social media, communications, facilities, fundraising, or another area of interest.

Additional Notes: Onsite housing is provided, which will be co-ed, and which may require sharing a room with another intern of the same gender. No pets are allowed. Interns should expect an irregular work schedule consisting of days, weekends, and holidays. Some workdays will exceed eight hours. The work is physically demanding. Additionally, because of the nature of working with sick and injured turtles, the work may at times be emotionally challenging.

TO APPLY to be an INTERN:

• CLICK HERE to complete our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation, Conservation, and Education Internship Application (via Google Forms)
• Be sure to upload your COVER LETTER into the form
• Be sure to upload your RESUME into the form
• Be sure to upload THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, including one from a professor, into the form. Alternatively, your references may e-mail a letter directly to internship@seaturtlehospital.org.
• The APPLICATION DEADLINE for SUMMER, 2023 is February 28, 2023. Decisions will be made by March 31, 2023. There are 11 positions available.
• The APPLICATION DEADLINE for FALL, 2023 is August 15, 2023. Decisions will be made by September 1, 2023. There are 4 positions available.

If you have questions, please email Lindsey, our Internship Coordinator, at internship@seaturtlehospital.org.