Salmon Center group has internships in Hood Canal area

StreamTeam is looking for Hood Canal-area interns to help with a variety of research projects that help protect wild salmon and restore their habitat.

The organization is part of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and based at the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center in Belfair.

Interns can expect to hike in rugged areas, perform wading surveys, drive on remote logging roads (with company vehicles) and perform basic data entry using MS Excel and MS Word, according to the job description.

Interns will gain skills in field work and research that will help them later in professional natural resources work, according to StreamTeam organizers.

Graduating high school seniors from North Mason, James A. Taylor, Shelton, Cedar, Quilcene, North Kitsap, Central Kitsap and Klahowya Secondary are eligible to apply if they are planning to attend a two or four-year college or university. Current college undergraduates who have graduated from one of the listed high schools are also eligible to apply. All applicants must be at least 17, have a valid driver’s license, reliable means of transportation and have plans to pursue an environmental science career.

Interns will earn $16.28 an hour and after completing the internship will receive a $1,500 scholarship paid directly to the college or university of their choice.

The full criteria for selection is at http://www.tinyurl.com/yedk8va4

Project manager Jill Grbavac, who will be supervising this year’s interns, told the Journal there are several projects this summer.

“This year our interns will be out in the field conducting instream salmon habitat surveys and collecting data for estuary monitoring in different locations,” she said. Interns might also help with invasive plant removal and care for animals, including chickens, ducks, rabbits, alpacas and llamas, on the farm in Belfair.

Grbavac said the work experience that interns will gain is directly relevant to many environmental jobs.

“It can be a great head start towards a career in an environmental field,” Grbavac said.

Applications are due by March 29.