Future Leaders of Whatcom Waters Internship Program (FLOW)

NSEA’s Future Leaders of Whatcom Waters (FLOW) is a paid internship program that offers hands-on experience in stream restoration, environmental education, and community outreach.

The reciprocal nature of the FLOW Program allows people to gain valuable professional development & real-world work experience while expanding NSEA to increase our capacity to accomplish more on the ground and improve our programs.

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At NSEA, we strongly encourage candidates of all racial and gender identities, cultural and economic backgrounds, and of any sexual orientation to apply for employment and service opportunities. NSEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status in employment or the provision of services.

Keystone Preschool Lead Teacher Recruitment open now until filled.
The Preschool Lead Teacher supports NSEA’s fully outdoor Keystone Nature Preschool program. In this role, the intern will co-teach and guide a small group of 3- and 4-year-olds through daily preschool activities. This licensed, nature-based curriculum takes place primarily on NSEA’s campus, with additional field trips throughout Whatcom County.

The Preschool Lead Teacher is responsible for creating developmentally appropriate learning goals that align with our inquiry-driven, nature-based approach. Using the outdoor environment as a dynamic classroom, the teacher fosters children’s understanding of the natural world, encourages empathy and kindness, and builds core skills through hands-on sensory exploration and experiential learning.

Monday, January 5th, through the end of the school year on Friday, June 5th. Candidates must be available 8am-2pm Monday through Friday for the entire school year.  

We strongly encourage you to reference this Application Grading Rubric.pdf to ensure that your answers are meeting the criteria our hiring staff reviews for.

Camp Keystone Educator - Recruitment closed. Opens Annually in March.
Camp Educator Interns will be responsible for leading groups of up to 10 campers in outdoor programming, including nature exploration, active games, stories, arts and crafts, and songs related to a different ecological theme each week. Camp Educator Interns will gain teaching and youth leadership skills, along with professional skills to benefit career pursuits.

Environmental Education Internship - Recruitment Closed. Opens Annually in April. The Environmental Education Internship offers hands-on experience and professional growth for aspiring leaders in environmental science and education.

From September - June interns play a vital role in delivering our Students for Salmon (SFS) program, gaining both independent and team-based leadership experience. On Wednesdays through Fridays, three-six interns are needed to lead dynamic, educational field trips at locations across Whatcom County. In spring, interns also help facilitate salmon fry releases—culminating classroom learning with real-world action as students release salmon they've raised in their school aquariums.

Stream Stewards Internship - Closed for winter due to funding constraints. Check back in December for the spring quarter application.
The Stream Stewards Internship offers hands-on opportunities to explore and engage with the many facets of NSEA’s work, tailored to each intern’s interests and availability.

The primary focus of this quarterly position is to help lead Saturday community work parties, where volunteers come together to restore salmon habitat across Whatcom County. Interns play key roles—from guiding small volunteer groups and supporting educational activities to shuttling participants and assisting the event team. These work parties involve planting native species, removing invasive plants, and other vital stewardship tasks that contribute directly to healthy stream ecosystems.

Western Washington Certificate Program
NSEA has partnered with Western Washington University's Environmental Science and Environmental Studies Departments to offer two academic certificates that blend classroom learning with hands-on experience through the Stream Stewards Internship.

These certificates verify students have gained knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute meaningfully to watershed restoration, community education, and environmental engagement.

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