The North Carolina Coastal Federation welcomes qualified undergraduate and graduate student interns from diverse backgrounds to join us in a range of internship opportunities. Offering real-world experience, these internships engage participants in projects and activities critical to the success of our organization.
A limited number of internships are available each semester in all three Federation offices, and we have several recurring summer internships each year. Check out our current offerings below:
Coastal Restoration & Outreach
The Coastal Policy and Restoration Internship at the Coastal Federation’s Headquarters office in Ocean, North Carolina, offers opportunities to learn valuable skills at a successful coastal nonprofit organization.
The Deadline to apply for Summer Intern Positions has passed.
Details
The Coastal Restoration and Outreach internship is in partnership with East Carolina University through the Public Service Fellows Program, supported by the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union, NC State University through the Climate Leaders Program, and Duke University through the Stanback Fellowship Program. Students from these universities are eligible to apply through those programs.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a member-supported, nonprofit environmental organization committed to protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast. The Coastal Federation provides several exciting opportunities for students to work with our established and successful organization. Working alongside dedicated professional staff, interns will engage in:
- Coastal policy and advocacy
- Coastal habitat protection and restoration
- Environmental education
- Community Collaboration
Interns will also learn about the inner workings of nonprofit management, including public relations, strategic planning, marketing, board of directors management, communications, fundraising, and nonprofit governance.
Be an integral part of our team.
Interns will spend 12 weeks of the summer working alongside staff in our headquarters office, located in Ocean, NC (near Newport). The exact timing of the internship is flexible, usually running from mid-May through the end of July or the first week of August. This hands-on program introduces participants to local, state, and national coastal policy and management. It also provides outdoor opportunities for habitat and water quality restoration. Whether it’s planting a living shoreline, bagging oyster shells for habitat, or building a rain garden to reduce polluted stormwater runoff, the mix of field and research-based opportunities provides a multitude of memorable experiences.
A key part of our internship includes guest presentations and site visits with local, state, and federal officials; private industry; and other nonprofits and academia, such as three local university marine labs and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facility.
Internship Objectives
- Learn about important coastal environmental issues and the key priority goals of the Coastal Federation.
- Better understand coastal management policy and implementation at the federal, state, and local levels and apply research skills to timely coastal issues.
- Learn about the roles of science, law, politics, and media relations in coastal advocacy, effective public participation models, and engagement strategies, and apply research skills to timely coastal issues.
- Experience the natural coast and understand the Coastal Federation’s protection and restoration work by engaging in a variety of field projects and site visits.
- Learn key steps for managing and operating a nonprofit (membership and board development, use of volunteers, staffing, accounting, grant writing, and communications).
- Collaborate on key coastal issues to help advance the work of the Coastal Federation by working with fellow interns on group assignments.
The projects that interns work on change by the summer, but you can get an idea about what a day-by-day schedule looks like here.
Important Information
The Coastal Policy and Restoration Internship takes place in the Coastal Federation’s Headquarters office in Ocean, North Carolina. The Coastal Restoration and Outreach internship is in partnership with East Carolina University through the Public Service Fellows Program, supported by the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union, North Carolina State University through the Climate Leaders Program, and Duke University through the Stanback Fellowship Program. Students from these universities are eligible to apply through those programs.
Please reach out to Rachel Bisesi at rachelb@nccoast.org with any questions.
Coastal Policy & Advocacy Summer Internship
The primary responsibility for this role will be to support the Federation’s Coastal Management program in its coastal policy and advocacy efforts. A key deliverable for this internship will be assisting with a special project involving compiling research and communication materials about the Federation’s advocacy history, policy efforts, and resources. The intern will then integrate these materials into a platform, such as a Story Map, for use on the Federation’s website and in its communication efforts.
This is an in-person internship based at the Federation’s Northeast office in Wanchese.
Deadline for the summer: April 21, 2025
Details
SUMMARY:
The successful summer intern will work 16 hours per week for ten (10) weeks, from May through July 2025, out of the Federation’s northeast office located in Wanchese, NC. The primary responsibility for this role will be to support the Federation’s Coastal Management program in its coastal policy and advocacy efforts. A key deliverable for this internship will be assisting with a special project involving compiling research and communication materials about the Federation’s advocacy history, policy efforts, and resources. The intern will then integrate these materials into a platform, such as a Story Map, for use on the Federation’s website and in its communication efforts.
Additionally, the intern will have opportunities for professional development. This may involve representing the Federation at public meetings, staying informed on local policy and coastal management issues, reviewing local government agendas and planning documents from a coastal advocate’s perspective, and assisting regional staff in the field with restoration projects.
Any travel-related professional development expenses will be reimbursed, in addition to the paid stipend. This is an in-person internship based at the Federation’s Northeast office in Wanchese.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- 60% – Coastal Management advocacy & policy work
- 20% – Professional development
- 20% – Field work and restoration projects
COMPETENCIES:
- Proficiency with GIS mapping platforms will be highly prioritized
- Strong professional work ethic
- Enthusiasm for learning and engaging in local politics and advocacy surrounding coastal management
- Ability to work with a diverse group of coastal stakeholders & engage partners and/or volunteers in restoration work
- Excellent public speaking, presentation, interpersonal, and teamwork skills
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Preference will be given to interns who are working towards or have recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in coastal management, environmental science, or a related field or equivalent work experience
- Experience working in and around the water and coastal environments
- Ability to lift 50 pounds and work in coastal environments
- Must be 18 or older to apply
TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references by April 21, 2025 to:
Alyson Flynn
Coastal Advocate and Environmental Economist
Include ‘NE Intern’ in the email subject line
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
Coastal Southeast Internship
Southeast Coastal Education and Outreach interns work as part of the southeast regional office team at the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center in the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square to implement coastal education and engagement activities to support the Federation’s community outreach, advocacy, habitat restoration, and water quality initiatives.
Deadline for the summer: March 5, 2025
Details
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a member-supported 501(c)3 that focuses on protecting and restoring water quality and coastal habitats along the North Carolina coast. For more than 40 years, the Federation has been restoring miles of coastline; training and educating students, adults, and communities to take actions that result in cleaner coastal waters; and advocating for an accessible, healthy, productive coast.
The Coastal Federation accepts internship applications for fall, spring, and summer terms. Term dates are based on the UNCW calendar year. Interns typically work 10-15 hours a week. The Federation’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Interns are also required to work events and attend meetings on nights and weekends occasionally. This is an unpaid internship position.
Student Duties
The intern will work as part of the Southeast Regional Office team at the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center in the Wrightsville Beach Historic Square to implement coastal education and engagement activities to support the Federation’s community outreach, advocacy, habitat restoration, and water quality initiatives.
- Assist education, advocacy, and restoration program staff with the research, design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of regional projects.
- Help plan and promote special and recurring events, such as volunteer, education, and fundraising events.
- Assist with digital marketing strategies and contribute to the Federation’s website and social media channels.
- Work with staff to develop and implement tools, activities, and events to engage the community at the Coastal Education Center and recruit new members.
- Represent the Federation at public events, festivals, and workshops focused on coastal habitat restoration and water quality protection projects.
- Assist with volunteer management, which includes corresponding with existing and prospective volunteers, organizing volunteer events and supplies, and participating in volunteer events.
- Help develop and implement educational activities and materials focused on coastal habitat restoration, marine debris, water quality, and stormwater.
- Gain hands-on training in environmental stewardship by participating in restoration events, such as rain garden installations and oyster reef builds.
- Assist with office operations.
Qualifications
- Flexible and positive attitude toward duties and schedules
- Possess initiative; be a self-starter
- Enthusiasm for learning and being involved with local politics and advocacy surrounding conservation efforts
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to conduct themselves professionally with a variety of stakeholders
Application Deadlines
Spring Internship Positions Filled. Please submit applications before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, to apply for a summer 2025 position. Interviews from the applicant pool may be scheduled and the position may be filled before the final application deadline.
To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to Bonnie Mitchell, Coastal Education Coordinator at Bonniem@nccoast.org
Nonprofit Internship Program Summer 2025
Want to spend your summer at the coast helping educate and engage the community in coastal conservation? Interested in learning more about nonprofit work? Apply for the Nonprofit Internship Program at the Southern Branch of the North Carolina Coastal Federation! This is the perfect opportunity for college students who want a chance to try out nonprofit work and have fun doing it. Our Southeast office in Wrightsville Beach is at the heart of a vibrant and lively community, full of exciting ways to get involved in meaningful projects. From gaining hands-on experience working in a non-profit setting to re-building oyster reefs and coastal habitats, the Federation’s work in the southeast is never boring!
Deadline: February 3, 2025
Details
Intern Functions
The intern will work as part of the Southeast Regional Office team to implement coastal education and engagement activities to support the Federation’s community outreach, habitat restoration, and water quality initiatives.
- Assist education, advocacy, and restoration program staff with the research, design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of regional projects
- Help plan and promote special and recurring events, such as volunteer, education, and fundraising events.
- Assist with digital marketing strategies and contribute to the Federation’s website and social media channels.
- Work with staff to develop and implement tools, activities, and events to engage the community at the Coastal Education Center and recruit new members.
- Represent the Federation at public events, festivals, and workshops focused on coastal habitat restoration and water quality protection projects.
- Assist with volunteer management, which includes corresponding with existing and prospective volunteers, organizing volunteer events and supplies, and participating in volunteer events.
- Help develop and implement educational activities and materials focused on coastal habitat restoration.
- Gain hands-on training in environmental stewardship by participating in restoration events, such as rain garden installations and oyster reef builds.
- Assist with office operations.
Compensation
Interns receive a taxable stipend of $5,760, which the funder provides in a lump sum to the host organizations.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for NPIP if you meet ALL of the following criteria:
You are a North Carolina native/resident at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States (the college/university can be in or outside of NC).
AND
You are a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. Note that current seniors set to graduate in the spring or summer of the internship year are NOT eligible, nor are graduate students.
AND
You are Pell Grant eligible in the academic year in which you apply for NPIP. You will be asked to submit a Student Aid Report screenshot to verify your eligibility for this requirement. DACA and undocumented students are eligible to apply.
Applications
Applications for summer 2025 internships are currently open. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 3, at 11:59 PM ET
To be considered for this position, you must check the box beside “NC Coastal Federation – Wrightsville Beach, NC” in the first question of the application.
For More Info
For more information about this internship position please go to https://www.ncgrantmakers.org/About-(1)/NPIP-Nonprofit-Internship-Program/Intern-Need-To-Knows.html and check the Non-Profit Internship Program FAQs. Should you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Yara Quezada Miller at yqmiller@ncgrantmakers.org at the NC Network of Grantmakers, which now administers the NPIP program.
For questions about work at our Southeast Office’s Coastal Education Center, contact Bonnie Mitchell, Coastal Education Coordinator, at bonniem@nccoast.org.
CFCC Marine Technology Marine Debris Program Internship
The Marine Debris Program internship is in partnership with Cape Fear Community College through the Marine Technology Program, supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Interns will spend 12 weeks of the summer working alongside staff out of the southeast region office, located in Wrightsville Beach.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Details
Eligibility:
You are eligible to apply for the Marine Debris Program Internship if you meet ALL of the following criteria:
- You are a North Carolina native/resident attending Cape Fear Community College and enrolled in the Marine Technology Program.
- You are completing your second and final year of study in the spring or summer of the internship year
- You are Pell Grant eligible in the academic year in which you apply for the internship. You will be asked to submit a Student Aid Report screenshot to verify your eligibility for this requirement.
- DACA and undocumented students are eligible to apply.
Description:
The Marine Debris Program internship is in partnership with Cape Fear Community College through the Marine Technology Program, supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Interns will spend 12 weeks of the summer working alongside staff out of the southeast region office, located in Wrightsville Beach. The exact timing of the internship is flexible, usually running from June through August. This hands-on program introduces participants to the Federation’s efforts to prevent, reduce, remove, recycle, and dispose of large-scale marine debris, Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADVs), and Derelict Fishing Gear (DFG). The intern will gain experience working alongside specialized ADV removal contractors and disposal experts, and commercial fishers collecting and removing 2,000 lbs. of debris by hand each day from marshes, beaches, and waterways. The students will also experience working with partner agencies, priority community members, and local governments to gain policy, logistics, and regulatory skills. The intern will also work on a special project during the internship, which may include compiling practical guides, manual,s or outreach products.
Duration:
June – August (12 weeks); 2026; 30 hrs./week
Compensation:
Interns receive a taxable stipend of $8,600 divided into three equal payments at the end of each month/ 4 weeks of the internship
Disclaimer: The details of this internship, including the stipend amount, are subject to final approval and may be subject to change. While we are working to confirm all aspects of the program, applicants will be notified of any updates as they become available. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we finalize these details.
Competencies:
- Preferred experience working outside, on the water, in challenging conditions
- Comfortable and able to perform tasks while on a boat, in the marsh and in the office
- Enthusiasm for learning and engaging with a diverse group of contractors, commercial fishers, community members and policymakers
- Able and willing to receive directions, instructions, and guidance
- Strong professional, personal, environmental and work ethic
- Ability to lift 50 pounds and work for extended periods of time in coastal environments
To Apply:
Submit a cover letter, resume and three references by April 30, 2026, to:
Amy Grogan, PhD
(she/her)
Program Director
Marine Technology
910-362-7403
Include Marine Debris Program Intern in the email subject line.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is committed to equal opportunity in employment. The Federation actively seeks and employs qualified persons, and administers all personnel policies and practices affecting its employees, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, political affiliation, ancestry, or other status protected by law.
