Summary: This position will provide interns with training and experience in the areas of Environmental Interpretation, Customer Service, Research, and Stewardship concepts.

Customer Service:  Answer visitor questions, assist with program sign-in, help prepare materials for programs and assist staff members as needed. This may include:

Answering the phone and transferring calls

Assist with check in for on-site programs

Data entry 

Staff and other program support as needed.

Environmental Interpretation:  Teach or assist with delivery of school or public science education programs. This will include:

Interacting with and speaking people of all ages who visit the Reserve.

Occasional outdoor work hiking along trails, marsh, mud, and sand in various weather

Benefits to Intern:  Interns will be exposed to both an Oregon State office and a protected reserve environment with a host of learning opportunities ranging from local outdoor and marine science to public and office communications.  Outreach interns will work alongside seasoned education professionals, scientists, and researchers to: 

Gain skills in professional communication 

Develop customer service skills

Understand and interpret natural history, botany, forestry, horticulture, estuaries, and wetlands

Assist with ongoing scientific research

Mentor Commitment: The Reserve Public Involvement Coordinator will serve as the liaison for all interns in the South Slough Reserve Internship Program. However, training and monitoring of the interns’ daily activities and performance feedback are the responsibility of the intern’s mentor. The commitment of the Reserve mentor is as follows: 

Mentor will provide training and/or coaching in the areas of 1) Environmental Interpretation 2) Customer Service 3) Science/Education Outreach 

Mentor will assign work for the intern to complete.

Mentor will assist the intern in identifying an individual project and provide the necessary support and/or coaching to allow him/her to successfully complete the project.

Mentor will review the intern’s work for accuracy and compliance to agency policies and procedures. 

§  Mentors will provide interns with feedback regarding his/her performance and provide evaluative information upon completion of the program and upon request.