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 currently is closed.
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.

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 - 1 position available | February 9 – June 5
NSEA's Environmental Education Internship provides hands-on experience and meaningful professional development for emerging leaders in environmental science, education, and outdoor learning.

As an intern, you’ll play a key role in delivering our Students for Salmon (SFS) program, building both independent and team-based leadership skills along the way. From Wednesday through Friday, you’ll help lead energetic, curriculum-based field trips at sites throughout Whatcom County, engaging fourth-grade students in place-based watershed education.

In the spring, you’ll also support our beloved salmon fry releases, guiding students as they release the salmon they’ve raised in their classrooms and connect their learning to real-world conservation.

This internship is a chance to inspire the next generation, grow your teaching and naturalist skills, and be part of meaningful, community-centered restoration education.

Stream Stewards Internship -Recruitment is currently closed.
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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