Summer Environmental Education Intern

The Ipswich River Watershed Association is seeking a motivated individual with strong interest in environmental education to join our team as our 2025 Kerry Mackin Summer  Environmental Education Intern. As the Kerry Mackin Intern, you will gain on-the-ground experience in leadership, environmental stewardship and education while making a lasting contribution with a community-driven environmental non-profit organization.
 

About Us: Located on a 23-acre riverside property in Ipswich, Massachusetts, the Ipswich River Watershed Association is a small organization with a history of big accomplishments. Incorporated in 1977, we work to improve conditions on the Ipswich River through community engagement, environmental monitoring, habitat restoration and advocacy for water resources policy improvements. Our organization has been a statewide leader in efforts to resolve chronic low-flow issues by incorporating sound science in Massachusetts’ water allocation process. We coordinate citizen science monitoring programs and are a key partner in river restoration projects. Visit ipswichriver.org to learn more. 
 

Role and Responsibilities:  The Kerry Mackin Intern’s primary role is to coordinate our summer youth education program, the Floating Classroom. You will also work with staff and volunteers on a variety of other projects during the summer. Primary duties will include: 
 

• Help plan and facilitate canoe and kayak outings for local youth, civic and out-of-school groups.
• Plan and provide customized, structured instruction to youth groups on and off-site in indoor and outdoor settings.
• Organize and lead occasional Ipswich River events and outings for adults.
• Assist staff with additional outreach, restoration or river monitoring tasks as needed, including invasive species removal, water quality monitoring, and maintaining an organized fleet of kayaks and canoes.
• Help to maintain the rain gardens, native plants, and Low-Impact-Development demonstration projects at our headquarters.
   

Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a keen interest in the environment and conservation as well as a willingness to learn and apply new skills on the job. Preferred qualifications include:
 

• Comfort in the outdoors and leading groups of people
• Ability to independently identify and initiate work to be done
• Ability to work as part of a larger team of staff and volunteers
• Coursework in Environmental Science or a related field; 2 years of completed college-level coursework preferred
• Comfort in and around the water, including swimming and kayaking
• Experience working with youth of any age
   

More about the Floating Classroom: The Floating Classroom is a part of IRWA’s larger education program, which aims to create a youth-to-advocate pipeline by engaging with kids, teens, and young adults on the subject of climate resilience and environmental advocacy. Ultimately, we hope that every youth we engage is more conscious of their impact on the Ipswich River, and that we provide passionate youth with opportunities to advocate for the interests of their river and watershed.  A primary goal of the Floating Classroom is to ensure recreational access to the Ipswich River, especially for youth who may otherwise experience barriers to participation.
 

The Floating Classroom hosts youth groups ranging in size from 10-60 individuals, ages 3-24. Youth groups are accompanied by their own staff leaders, and the Kerry Mackin Intern’s primary duty is to deliver educational programming and facilitate outings on the river. The Kerry Mackin Intern also travels offsite to partner groups’ locations to deliver on-land programming.
 

How to Apply: Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Mileage will be reimbursed for work related travel. Candidates must be 18 years of age or older. Position will be for 35-40 hours/ week and last 12 weeks beginning no later than May 28th. This is a paid internship with a pay rate of $18/hour. 

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume as an email attachment to Emma at ehughen@ipswichriver.org with your name and “Kerry Mackin Intern” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but we recommend that serious applicants submit their applications by January 31 2025. 

We only consider those applications which include both a cover letter and a resume and which are submitted via email.

Ipswich River Watershed Association is an equal opportunity employer.