Youth Ocean Advocates

About the Internship

Youth Ocean Advocates are students interested in advocating for marine wildlife and habitats. Students in this program will learn the ins and outs of advocating for conservation actions in local communities. Youth Ocean Advocates work within the NYC community to support various wildlife conservation issues, learn how environmental policies impact communities and the health of the environment, and explore ways to influence change as a young leader.

Students will learn best practices in large-scale event planning, including assisting, planning, and coordinating a Youth Summit and World Oceans Day activities.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the marine environment, conservation, and advocacy techniques
• Hone public speaking skills while teaching the public about ocean conservation and actions they can take to protect our environment by educating Aquarium visitors and community members at local events
• Learn about environmental justice issues and their impact on communities, wildlife, and how to encourage action
• Plan and coordinate conservation projects like beach cleanups and develop activities for educational tabling at community events such as “It’s my Estuary Day” and “World Oceans Day”
• Assist with the development, planning, and execution of the Youth Conservation Summit, to be held Spring 2026
• Participate in advocacy opportunities with WCS and partner organizations, including meetings and hearings with elected officials

Schedule

Thursday afternoons 5pm–7pm in person at the New York Aquarium, plus occasional weekends for events and field trips during the fall/winter. Weekend events are more frequent in the Spring (March–May). Approximately 100 hours total.

Requirements

• Must be a high school student in good standing
• Must be a NYC resident
• You are interested in supporting marine conservation programs and strengthening your skills as a youth leader
• You are interested in understanding how environmental policy works and how it impacts communities
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• If accepted, must successfully pass a background screening if 18+ years of age (provided by WCS)

Pay

$400 total stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon completion of the position, less applicable taxes.

Application Details

The application will ask you to upload a resume (not required) and provide the name, email, and phone number of at least one reference. You will also need to respond to the following questions in 100–200 words each:

• Tell us about something you have done to benefit the environment or your local ecosystem (these can be big or small actions)
• What are some sustainable actions you would like to promote and how do they support conservation?
• What are your future career goals and how would this internship help you learn, grow, and prepare for these goals?
• What do wildlife, science, and/or conservation mean to you? How do you want to make a difference?
• What roles have you had in school or work/volunteer experience that demonstrate your potential to be a good team member and/or leader?
• Why should you be selected to participate in this opportunity? In other words, what makes you stand out from other applicants?