Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge P. O. Box 1969 Manteo, North Carolina 27954 Contact: Bonnie Strawser - 252-473-1131 Back to News Home Page

News Release

February 22, 2006

Refuge interns lead marsh canoe tours throughout the summer at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and help Outer Banks visitors learn about the diverse organisms that share this barrier island habitat.
Photo credit: Melissa McGaw

Volunteer Internships Available on NC National Wildlife Refuges

For students who may be studying for careers in the biology, wildlife management, outdoor recreation, forestry, or environmental education, Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges are incredible places to work and learn. Each summer, refuge staff recruit and select five people to fill general refuge internships. These positions last approximately 3 months and are designed to expose the interns to a wide variety of refuge work, ranging from conducting biological surveys and monitoring sea turtle nests to presenting educational programs, working in the Visitor Center, and maintaining refuge facilities and trails. “Internships at Alligator River and Pea Island are especially exciting because interns have the opportunity to work with several endangered species, educate hundreds of Outer Banks visitors, and perform the basic maintenance duties that keep a Refuge running,” says Wildlife Interpretive Specialist Ann Marie Salewski. Applications for this summer are being accepted through March 3.

Former intern Elizabeth Allison described the internship as a “good way to find out what the Fish and Wildlife Service has to offer.” With opportunities to work in biology, maintenance, and public use, the internship provided her the opportunity to see different aspects of the Service and to meet many of the people within it. Elizabeth said her favorite thing about the internship was that the work varied greatly. “One week I was leading canoe tours but the next I was checking for sea turtle tracks on the beach.”

If you are planning a career in the biological, environmental science, wildlife management, or outdoor recreation/education fields, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a great place to choose to gain experience. As the only federal agency dedicated to preserving and managing wildlife and their habitats, the Service can offer its interns field experiences and opportunities unrivaled by other Federal agencies. “Our Refuges give the interns practical job experience that will serve them well as they continue along their career track,” says Ms. Salewski. “The refuge staff and resource professionals will provide hard-working interns an excellent networking base for finding jobs in the future.”

Selections for the 2006 summer will be made immediately after the deadline for submitting applications - March 3, 2006. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three professional and/or academic references to Ann_Salewski@fws.gov. For more details on the General Refuge Internship, or other types of internships that may be available, consult http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/volunteer/intall.html or call Ann Marie Salewski at (252) 987-1118.

Other internship opportunities available on North Carolina national wildlife refuges can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/northcarolina/intern.html. Other intern positions are available for those seeking more specialized experience or who are available for longer periods of time.