Environmental Internship - Unpaid​/Volunteer

Position Information

Position:
Environmental Intern

Reports to:

Environmental Project Manager

Department:
Community Development

Emergency Classification:
Non‑Essential

Location:

On‑Site - Town of Fort Myers Beach

Position Type:
Unpaid Internship (For Academic Credit and/or Volunteer Hours Only), Temporary

Duration: 12‑16 Weeks (Semester‑Based) – Flexible dependent on the students’ academic and volunteer hour needs

The Town of Fort Myers Beach offers a structured, educational internship designed to provide university students with hands‑on learning in local environmental planning, permitting, and conservation management. This program is intended to be enriching and educational, giving students the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to real‑world environmental challenges while contributing fresh perspectives to the Town’s initiatives.

This internship is available only to students receiving academic credit or completing a degree‑required experiential learning component through an accredited institution. Interns will work closely with the Town's Environmental Project Manager, gaining exposure to municipal environmental programs, permitting processes, resiliency planning, and conservation projects.

• Understand how local, state, and federal environmental regulations apply to building permits, development plans, and municipal projects.
• Develop technical and analytical skills in environmental data collection, GIS mapping, and habitat monitoring.
• Gain experience in grant writing, ordinance review, and environmental education initiatives.
• Strengthen communication, teamwork, and public presentation skills within a professional local‑government setting.
• Demonstrate the ability to connect academic coursework to practical field and administrative tasks that support community sustainability.

• Learn about and participate in building permit and development plan reviews for environmental compliance.
• Support shorebird, listed species, and beach management monitoring efforts.
• Participate in water quality testing, landscape management, and habitat conservation projects.
• Aide in environmental policy research, ordinance drafting, and grant applications.
• Prepare educational materials and outreach content that promote environmental awareness and resiliency.
• Attend staff meetings and site visits to observe environmental permitting and compliance processes.

• Environmental Science or Environmental Studies
• Environmental Planning or Urban & Regional Planning
• Marine Biology or Coastal Ecology
• Civil or Coastal Engineering
• Environmental Policy, Law, or Public Administration
• Sustainability, Natural Resources, or Geography

• Experience in Environmental Planning and Resiliency.
• Building Permit & Development Plan Review.
• Grant Writing and Administration.
• Ordinance Review and Drafting.
• Listed Species & Habitat Conservation.
• Shorebird Monitoring, Beach Management, and Water Quality.
• Landscape and Habitat Management.
• Environmental Project Management.

• Significant standing, walking, moving, climbing, carrying, bending, and kneeling. Ability to walk and patrol the beach for extended periods, including on sandy terrain.
• Some crawling, reaching, handling, sitting, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, and digging.
• Capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds of equipment or beach debris.
• Physical capability to effectively use and operate various related vehicles and machinery associated with job requirements.
• Mobility to navigate beach areas, including uneven surfaces and sand dunes.

• Ability to perform strenuous work in varying and adverse weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, and potentially dangerous environments.

• Task requires sound perception and discrimination.
• Task requires visual perception and discrimination.
• Task requires oral communication ability.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is an EOE and DFW.