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.

Environmental Education Internship - Recruitment Open - Positions are open until filled; first review deadline is August 1st, 2025

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.

Internship duration: September 3, 2025 - June 5, 2026
Compensation: $18.66 per hour
Availability: Two of the following days: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (7am-4:30pm) throughout the internship term. Up to 27 hours per week depending on availability and program schedule.

Stream Stewards Internship - Fall Recruitment Open

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.

Internship duration: September 20th - December 6th, 2025.
Compensation: $18.66 per hour
Availability: Full day 6 am-4 pm on Saturdays. This is a quarterly, part-time position, averaging 8 hours per week. Weekly schedules may fluctuate depending on optional additional shifts but will never exceed 16 hours per week or more than 140 hours per term.

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.

Camp Keystone Educator - Recruitment closed. Opens annually around 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. For questions, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email Nathan at nzabel@n-sea.org or call 360-715-0283 x120.

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDER