Overview
Most summer internships feel like a long audition. This one puts teens to work from day one. The Billion Oyster Project's Research Associate Technician Internship embeds recent high school graduates inside a working environmental nonprofit for a full summer — contributing to real restoration and education efforts, attending staff meetings, and finishing the season with an independent project they've developed themselves.
Interns Choose a Focus, Then Go Deep
Each intern is placed within one programmatic track — options include outdoor education, restoration field support, volunteer and fabrication, donor relations, and communications — with an on-site supervisor guiding their work. The range is intentional. A teen drawn to hands-on fieldwork and a teen who wants to learn nonprofit communications can both find a genuine fit here.
What makes this different from most summer programs is that interns are treated as contributors, not observers. They attend staff-wide meetings, collaborate across departments, and spend the summer building real familiarity with how an environmental organization actually operates.
The Final Project Is Theirs to Define
Every intern develops and presents an independent project at the end of the summer. It doesn't have to be a research paper — it can be a data visualization, an educational activity, a social media campaign, an art installation, or something else entirely. The only requirement is that it meaningfully contributes to BOP's mission. For a teen who has ideas and wants room to run with them, this is a rare opportunity.
Who It's For
The teen who wants more than a line on a resume. This program tends to be a strong fit for recent high school graduates who are genuinely curious about marine science, environmental work, or nonprofit operations — and who are ready to show up, work hard, and figure things out alongside professionals doing it full time.
Application & Eligibility
Open to high school graduates, college undergraduates, and postgraduates. The application requires a resume, cover letter, and a brief project idea — the idea doesn't need to be fully formed, just genuine. BOP explicitly encourages anyone with real interest to apply, even if they don't meet every listed qualification. Note that a small number of tracks have additional requirements; check the full position description on the BOP website for details.
Cost & Information
- Compensation: $19/hour
- Dates: Mid-May through late August (some flexibility)
- Eligibility: High school graduates and above
- Locations: Governors Island, NYC school sites, and restoration sites across the five boroughs
- To apply: billionoysterproject.org — check for current cycle deadlines