Seasonal Common Loon Education Intern

 Position Summary: Public education is a fundamental component of the Loon Preservation Committee’s mission.  We are seeking a seasonal intern to help expand and diversify our education and outreach initiatives. The Education and Outreach Intern will work with LPC’s Outreach Biologist to implement new and existing activities, including traditional PowerPoint presentations, hands-on educational experiences, and print and digital forms of outreach. The Outreach Intern will also assist with Common Loon nest site management on Squam Lake and with LPC’s Lead Tackle Buyback Program, an initiative geared towards encouraging anglers to make the switch to non-toxic tackle. 
 

Major Responsibilities: 

• Give presentations at The Loon Center and other locations throughout the state about loon biology, threats to loons, and ways for recreational lake users to reduce their impact on loons in New Hampshire.
• Lead educational guided paddling trips for residents of communities surrounding loon-occupied lakes.
• Assist with LPC’s Live Loon Cam by: engaging withe the Loon Cam audience through frequent participation in chats and curating a gallery of video clips to be used for educational purposes.
• Assist with nest site management work on Squam Lake, including deployment and retrieval of signs and rope lines to reduce human activity around vulnerable nesting areas
• Assist with the Lead Tackle Buyback Program, including public outreach and communications with participating retailers and other partnering organizations
• Assist with other outreach, including social media and the distribution of printed outreach materials, as needed.

Candidate Requirements: This is a public-facing position that requires strong interpersonal and writing skills and confidence with public speaking. The position requires an individual who is driven, outgoing, engaging, organized, and passionate about wildlife and conservation. On-site housing is communal, and as such, the ideal candidate will be able to live and work closely with others. Because this position requires travel to locations throughout the state, a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation is a must. The ideal candidate will be comfortable with using a kayak and able to paddle for hours at a time. Experience in the field of education (particularly environmental education) is preferred. Basic knowledge about loons is preferred but not required, as extensive training and background information will be provided. Experience with video editing is preferred, but basic training will be provided.
 
Physical Demands: The Education and Outreach Intern will need to be able to load and unload a kayak (35-50 lbs) from a car roof rack, lift loon nesting signs and cinder blocks (20–40 lbs), and paddle a kayak for up to several hours. 

To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, and two references to Caroline Hughes at chughes@loon.org.

About Us: The Loon Preservation Committee’s mission is to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the larger natural world. Since our founding in 1975, we have worked to restore New Hampshire’s threatened Common Loon population through a multi-faceted approach consisting of monitoring, management, research, and public education