Introducing the NMLC Summer Interns Class of 2014

One of the most exciting parts of summer at the National Marine Life Center is meeting, working with, and educating the future generations of marine animal rehabilitators, scientists, educators, and development specialists that come to us as enthusiastic interns! This year is no exception, as we are preparing to welcome six new members of the NMLC team in the coming weeks. The National Marine Life Center is proud to provide hands on experimental learning opportunities to aspiring students throughout the year! NMLC’s internship program provides students with real world work experiences and we can’t wait to let these six students get their hands dirty at NMLC this summer.

Chelsey T. – Chelsey will be coming to us all the way from Michigan this summer to serve as an Animal Care & Education Intern. She recently graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She already has some wildlife rehabilitation under her belt working at Wildtracks; a manatee and primate rehabilitation facility in Belize, in the the fall of 2012, and as a rehabilitation volunteer at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids, MI. She has had a great amount of relevant experience in animal care, and environmental experience working at a Doggie Daycare Center, the John Ball Zoo, and the Blanford Nature Center. Outside of her schooling Chelsey participates in volunteer mission trips where she educates children, she enjoys playing soccer, and she is proficient in Spanish! This summer

Sarah D.– Sarah is finishing her sophomore year as a Marine Biology major at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She will be serving as an Animal Care & Education Intern this summer. Originally from Canada Sarah will be the very first international intern at the National Marine Life Center. She is no stranger to leaving her country to gain experience in marine biology though, Sarah traveled to Puerto Rico in 2013 to serve as a student researcher studying Humpback Whales in the Caribbean. Her research included photo identification and acoustic sampling. Sarah is also a lifeguard and swim instructor and is no stranger to teaching young children. Some of her other experiences include working with the dogs in her schools canine lab, and as a bio-acoustics analyzer for her professor working on an ecological review of bird population densities. Sarah plans to get her doctorate degree and conduct research on the behavior of marine animals around the world. Outside of her studies Sarah is an avid acrylic painter and nature photographer, we can’t wait to see her work! She is an advanced scuba diver and tries to spend as much time in the water as she can. Sarah is most looking forward to ” assisting with medical procedures and to care for all the animals staying with NMLC, and to get hands on experience working with them”

Rachel M. – Animal Care and Education Intern Rachel is finishing she first year as a vet student at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, MA. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2012 and is originally from Southbury, CT. Although she has a great deal of clinical experience working as a veterinary nurse at the Randolph Animal Hospital, the New England Wildlife Center and the Wildlife Center if Virginia, Rachel comes to us seeking hands on experience with marine species such as sea turtles and seals. The clinical work and collaborative research projects at these facilities sparked her interest in the area of conservation medicine. Rachel also served as a volunteer scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association  conducting ecosystem surveys at sea in 2012. Whether working to protect barnacles or cetaceans, Rachel aspires to minimize the damage done to aquatic wildlife by disease and unnatural causes. In her down time Rachel enjoys going for a hike, photographing nature, and most of all, spending time by the water! Rachel is most looking forward to “participating in the rehabilitation of marine animals and sharing all that she learns with NMLC visitors”.

Samantha U. – Samantha, originally from Gilbert, AZ is a junior at the University of Connecticut where she studies Natural Resources with a minor is wildlife. Samantha hopes to someday work for the Fish & Wildlife Service helping animals through environmental law enforcement. Samantha will be working on both animal care and marketing projects for us this summer. She has experience fundraising and planning events with her sorority which we hope to tap into for our 5K race and Mermaid Ball. Samantha studied abroad in South Africa last summer participating in an Animal Conservation Program. While there, her shark cage diving experience steered her in the direction of marine conservation. Samantha is ready to tackle any project this summer and we are excited for her to join our team. She is most looking forward to “working with and helping the rescued animals, as well as working with the community to further education and conservation efforts” She is also “excited to live on the cape for the summer”

Chase M. – A native of nearby Duxbury, MA Chase is currently a Environmental Studies Major at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Choosing a school in Utah for both its Environmental programs and its proximity to the slopes Chase is a professional skiier! Chase has a great variety of experiences and will be working this summer in both animal care and marketing projects. He started his own business providing lawn care in high school where he learned how to approach customers and market his services. He was also able to secure a sponsor for his skiing supporting him professionally. His sport has also given him the opportunity to gain experience in video editing. Chase enjoys surfing, sailing, hiking, photography and live music. He is most looking forward to ” hands on experience with marine animals and getting involved in environmental marketing, fundraising, and management”. Chase will be leaving us for a short time in the middle of the summer to study sea turtles in Costa Rica with the School For Field Studies. We hope he brings back some great knowledge and experiences to share with us at NMLC when he returns.

Steve P. – Steve is from Plymouth, MA where he resides with his wife and two children. After working in the printing business for 20 years Steven has decided to go back to school to follow a career path he believes will be more fulfilling. Steven will be serving as a Marketing and Development Intern this summer. He is currently studying at Cape Cod Community College where he is majoring in Environmental Science and Technology. During his internship at NMLC we are hoping to tap into Stevens marketing a print media roots to help update our marketing materials, educational brochures, and event flyers. He has many years of experience presenting businesses to the public through marketing and advertizing and we are excited to use his experiences to help spread the mission and message of the National Marine Life Center.

Animal care and education interns serve NMLC in many capacities. They assist with our weekly educational programs including Little Flippers Club, and Marine Animal Medical Mystery. Each intern is assigned a week during which the planning and preparation of all the education programs is their responsibility. Interns will represent NMLC at community events, and deliver marine science programs to local school and community groups on and off site. They are responsible for the upkeep of our popular Critter Tank in the Discovery Center, and for water quality testing for all of our animal tanks. They will participate in hands on animal husbandry and assist in medical care for the Sea Turtle and Seal patients in our marine animal hospital. Each intern will select an additional individual project to work on throughout the summer and will present the outcome to the staff, volunteers and public in August.

Marketing/Development  interns will be helping with our major fundraising events including the Feet Fins & Flippers 5K, the Mermaid Ball, and helping prepare for Spectacle of the Trees. They will also be helping to represent the center at at fairs & festivals, via website blogs, social media, and marketing materials, making sure that you are fully aware of all the great things happening at the National Marine Life Center this summer. Marketing/Development interns will also be completing a project and presenting their results at the end of the summer.

We are very excited to kick off the busy summer season with these diverse and talented students. Interns play a key role in accomplishing the goals of NMLC during this busy time of year. Please join me in welcoming our 2013 Summer interns!