Community Coastal Experience Co-Leader

The CORaL Network CCE Co-Leader will co-plan and facilitate a month-long traveling internship program for adults from southcentral Alaska called the Community Coastal Experience (CCE), which will take place in June and July 2025. Planning will take place from February through May as a collaboration between the two CCE co-leads, the CCE Coordinator, and program partners. Program wrap-up will take place from mid-July through the end of August. 

This position is part of the Community Organized Restoration and Learning (CORaL) Network, funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. During the Community Coastal Experience, the Co-Leader will connect the interns with projects and organizations that are working to forward collaborative science and restoration and weave together environmental science and Alaska Native cultures of the region impacted by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in southcentral Alaska. The Co-Leader will facilitate activities with partner organizations on the topics of marine ecology, mariculture, environmental monitoring, archaeology, and cultural revitalization. These interns can expect to boost their field work skills, build networks with other communities and individuals, and become more familiar with local Indigenous cultures and coastal science. 

This person will work alongside the CORaL Network CCE Coordinator, the other CCE Co-Leader, and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) Program Director to learn best practices in place-based, culturally-informed education and to gain knowledge of Alaskan coastal ecology and cultures of the region. The Co-Leader will spend 4-5 weeks with the Community Coastal Experience traveling to 2-4 communities in southcentral Alaska, which may include Homer, Seldovia, Cordova, Kodiak and/or Seward, spending approximately 1-2 weeks in each location. During this experience, they will be living with and supporting up to 8 interns in day-to-day needs as well as the scheduled learning activities. Field sites feature rocky intertidal areas of outstanding diversity, coastal forests, salt and freshwater wetlands, and research vessels.

Timing: Position runs February 3 - August 31, 2025.

In-person training required February 10-14 in Cordova, AK (travel costs will be covered). 

The CORaL Network CCE Co-Leader can expect to spend the months prior to the CCE (February - May) in planning and preparation for the program. This will include obtaining and organizing materials and gear, communicating with program interns, coordinating participant and presenter transportation, and attending training and workshops alongside other CCE staff and presenters. Remote work may be possible in late February, March, & April, with the option to work either full time or part time during these months. Starting in May, in-person full time work in Homer is required. After the CCE program (mid July - August) the CCE Co-Leader will follow up with the CCE interns and help coordinate one-week internships with partner organizations for those that are interested. The CCE Co-Leader will also have the option to help plan and co-facilitate the week-long teen Marine Science Expedition (late July or early August). There may be some additional opportunities to assist with other CACS programs at the Homer Spit, Wynn Nature Center, and the Peterson Bay Field Station. Includes significant evening and weekend work, especially during the month-long CCE.

Qualified applicants are energetic and flexible, possess curiosity and enthusiasm about the natural world and human communities, have experience in place-based environmental education, and demonstrate the maturity needed to live in group situations. Please read through the full job description and application instructions found here: Employment — Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

 Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through January 1, 2025, with a priority deadline of November 25, 2024.