Ninilchik Seasonal Internship

Internship

Announcement date:
May 8, 2026
Closing date:
When Filled

Position title:

Ninilchik Seasonal Internship

Term:
June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026

Position type:
Full Time/Temporary

Salary: $18-$22 per hour DOE

This internship will support fieldwork, communications, and outreach related to beaver restoration and research on the Kenai Peninsula peatlands. The project explores how beavers and beaver dam analogs can influence water levels, carbon storage, and habitat for critical species such as fish and moose. Working with Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR) and Alaska Wildlife Alliance (AWA), the intern will contribute to this effort by participating in fieldwork, documenting fieldwork, and communications.

Through photography, videos, and blog writing, the intern will help communicate the value of healthy peatlands to partners, decision‑makers, and the public. The intern will also help connect this project with other local habitat restoration initiatives. The fieldwork component of this internship will be led locally by Syverine Bentz, with desk‑based management, communications guidance and support from Chelsey Cook and Emily Mesner at the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.

Through this experience, the intern will gain hands‑on exposure to field‑based environmental science while developing skills in science communication, multimedia storytelling, and conservation outreach. The internship will take place from June 1 – August 31, 2026. Intern will be hired by Ninilchik Traditional Council (NTC), and managed by AWA and NTC. The intern will work remotely, or at the NTC office.

• Week of June 1:
  Orientation, KBNERR Intern Orientation and Field Safety (10 am‑1 pm, Homer)
• June 3‑4:
  Beaver and BDA site orientation and dam maintenance (Happy Valley)
• Week of June 8:
  Beaver and BDA site monitoring and content gathering with interdisciplinary Research Team and AWA Communications team (Happy Valley)
• June 11‑12:
  Site visit with PEW Trust
• Week of June 15:
  Habitat Model Field Validation (Deep Creek and Anchor River drainages) with field team plus content development
• June 17: CPR certification (10 am‑4 pm)
• Week of June 22:
  Habitat Model Field Validation (Deep Creek and Anchor River drainages)
• June 22:
  Kachemak Sponge Vegetation Surveys (Homer)
• Week of June 29:
  Option to join juvenile salmon estuary work beach seining
• Week of July 13:
  Habitat Model Field Validation (Deep Creek and Anchor River drainages)
• Week of July 20:
  Partner engagement events (Homer)
• July 21‑22:
  Land Trust, Fish Need Land Too event
• Week of July 27:
  Option to join juvenile salmon estuary work beach seining (Anchor River)
• Week of August 3:
  Alternate dates for Beaver Habitat Model Validation field work
• August 10:
  Alaska Wild Salmon Day, option to join Beluga salt marsh monitoring (Homer)
• August 24:
  Final internship report due
• August 28:
  Internship ends

The intern will support fieldwork, communications, and community engagement related to peatland restoration on the southern Kenai Peninsula. The intern will work with staff from KBNERR and AWA to conduct fieldwork, document field days, and assist in communication and outreach.

• Field participation and documentation: participate in fieldwork days, document fieldwork through photography, video, and notes, observe and learn field techniques related to habitat assessments, restoration, and monitoring.
• Science communication and communications support: work with NTC Indian General Assistance Program coordinator, Elders program staff, and AWA to document Traditional Ecological Knowledge of beavers, present findings through story maps, in writing, or other communications.
• Collaborate with AWA’s team to develop multimedia content that communicates the ecological and cultural role of peatlands and the goals of the restoration and research projects.
• Create content that highlights fieldwork and community perspectives on beavers and peatlands.
• Translate research and field experiences into accessible content for Tribal partners, documenting and storytelling to share with partners, funders, and the broader community.

• Two to four short‑form videos developed in Canva about the project, highlighting aspects of fieldwork, community perspectives, and beaver conservation.
• Photos and videos of fieldwork and validation for project partners and communications projects (with guidance from AWA Communications Team).
• Blog posts, videos or written content covering community relationships to beavers, fish habitat perspectives, and beaver ecosystems.
• Additional content such as maps, interviews, reports and articles on TEK/TIK of beavers, including archival work, mapping, toponymy and land‑use research, ethnobotany research, and interviews.
• Present learnings at local culture camps and outreach at events and Tribal or community gatherings where schedule allows.