Be Part of the Soundwatch Boater Education Program Team! If you, someone you know, or students within your department/organization might be interested in working with Soundwatch this summer, please pass along this notice and attachments. Thank You! Summer Internships Available The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking interns to assist with the successful and internationally acclaimed education and monitoring program working to reduce vessel disturbance to killer whales and other marine wildlife in the Haro Strait region of Washington State and British Columbia, Canada. Soundwatch needs assistants to help conduct seasonal vessel patrols to educate boaters on regional guidelines and regulations and to collect data while monitoring vessel activities around whales. Data from this important program characterizes vessel activity trends around marine wildlife and is used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines. Internship based in Friday Harbor, WA, approximately 35-40 hours per week, May-October, variety of tasks both in an office setting and in the field on the patrol boat and/or shore based whale watch areas. Please see attachments for more detail. Internship is unpaid. Shared housing at reasonable cost, is likely available. REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be at least 18 years, be physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), able to swim, and not easily susceptible to seasickness. Be prepared to spend time aboard a small (20 ft.) vessel in unpredictable weather and sea conditions. Interns will need a valid passport or US enhanced driver's license, CPR/First Aid certification. A state boater license/or equivalent safe boating card, not required but is a bonus. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end. Applications accepted until April 1st, 2013. Decisions will be made by mid-April. Please send application materials to: Eric Eisenhardt Soundwatch Coordinator P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 Or email (preferred) to: soundwatch@whalemuseum.org Please visit The Whale Museum's Web site for more information on Soundwatch: http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html Eric Eisenhardt Research Curator The Whale Museum P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-4710 X 33 360-378-5790 Fax www.whalemuseum.org <http://www.whalemuseum.org/> Be Whale Wise! Soundwatch Intern Job Description The Soundwatch Boater Education Program Mission: Promote responsible stewardship of the Salish Sea through the development, distribution and implementation of guidelines and regulations for marine wildlife viewing by residents, visitors and commercial users. Program goal: Reduce disturbances to marine wildlife by irresponsible boater behavior. Program objectives: * Educate boaters on best practices for viewing marine wildlife before they leave the shore * Reinforce the learning experience in the actual context where disturbances take place * Develop and evaluate community-based voluntary guidelines * Provide a scientific platform to monitor and record vessel activities around whales and other marine wildlife Soundwatch Internship Program Goals: Provide intern and volunteer opportunities in a safe and instructive program assisting the Soundwatch Boater Education Program in promoting its larger mission of marine stewardship. Intern Program Objectives: * Execute safe and proper seapersonship while educating boaters about wildlife viewing regulations and collecting data on wildlife viewing activities, * Educate commercial and private recreational boaters about wildlife viewing guidelines and regulations in a positive, professional manner, * Collect data on vessel activities around whales or other protection areas for further study, verification, or possible legal action. Pre-Training Requirements: A. Participate in a Soundwatch Training Workshop. Once you are invited to become a Soundwatch Intern or Assistant, you need to attend a training workshop to familiarize yourself with all aspects of the program. Workshops are usually done in the late spring and again in the early summer. You will need to fill out information sheets and a liability waiver. Once you have attended a workshop you can develop your volunteer schedule with the coordinator. B. Be familiar with the Soundwatch vessel. In addition to the training workshop, all volunteers must have a boat check out. This includes a basic run through of boat operations, safety equipment, radio and cell phone, GPS, range finder and video use. It is also a good idea to become familiar with the local area if you are not already. We do have some charts and field guides available, but you might want to get your own. Daily Operational Responsibilities A. Come prepared for a full day of variable conditions on boat days. Includes bringing the following items: Appropriate clothing; warm jacket, good rain gear, warm hat, sun hat, sunglasses, gloves and boots if it is cold and rainy. T-shirts and shorts are OK as long as they are not offensive and you have other clothing when it cools. Plenty of food and water; snack food and easy to eat items are best because we often do not stop to have a lunch break. Bring more water than you will need, as dehydration is very likely. Sunscreen is essential; the boat has no covered protection. Equipment; binoculars are very handy as is a wristwatch. You may bring a camera, but keep in mind we are a working boat and are not getting close to wildlife. Safety gear; we will provide floatation suits and jackets of various sizes. If you have something specific that you like to wear, feel free to use it. We have full first aide gear but bring anything you know you are likely to need. Please advise your driver of any special condition you may have before you leave the dock. B. Follow the lead of your driver. The Soundwatch driver's main responsibility is to strictly follow all wildlife viewing guidelines keeping wildlife well being the first priority. They need to be aware and conscience of whales' whereabouts at all times. You can help by keeping a whale lookout and by following directions given to you by the driver. Many things are going on at the same time on the water and it can be overwhelming for short periods of time. If the driver does not have to worry about what you are doing, they can concentrate on the whales. C. Follow the daily procedure. This includes doing the morning check-ins, having a reliable way to be reached, and arriving at the designated time. It also includes helping with gear schlepping, preparing daily educational materials, data collection gear and supplies and boat set-up. May also include instructing new volunteers on daily procedures. D. Be professional at all times. Come prepared and ready. Use appropriate behavior, language, attire (Soundwatch or Museum clothing if possible) and attitude- you are the SOUNDWATCH PROGRAM and you are representing The Whale Museum at all times. Be polite, courteous and firm. Don't loose your cool in tense situations. Relax. Take a deep breath. Have some fun. Education and Data Collection Responsibilities: A. Contact all private boats that are reasonable and safe to approach. Includes powerboats, kayaks, sailboats, personal watercraft etc. In general, try to communicate with commercial whale watch boats through radio and cell phone about guideline issues, rather than approach with passengers. Do not motor into groups of whales to contact boats. Soundwatch is setting an example, and wildlife safety is a higher priority. Stay clear of vessels actively engaged in fishing activities. If you need to approach, wait until lines are in. B. Distribution of Educational Materials. Using the pole on the boat, or at public facilities hand out educational materials that includes the Be Whale Wise Guidelines for Wildlife Viewing, Soundwatch Brochure, MPA and Special Local areas Flyer, Bottomfish Recovery Program Brochure when warranted, and any other relevant local service announcements. C. Verbal Communications. When handing out information on the boat or at a public facility, politely but loudly tell boaters who you are and what you are doing. Tell them the basic guidelines, something about the whales or refuge area, and any special conditions of the day. Always say thank you and if you can something positive. If the boater has not been following guidelines, explain to them what was potentially wrong, and give them the alternative for next time. If they continue to be a problem you can re-approach with a reminder, and/or remind them of the NMFS Marine Mammal Protection Act, use video in extreme cases. D. Maintain a daily boat log. Includes date, time, weather, crew, destination, fuel and oil levels, added fuel or oil, boat maintenance needed, boat maintenance completed, equipment comments, big events on the water, marine mammal sightings, communications with officials, messages for other drivers, return time, engine hours E. Fill out data sheets. Fill out data sheets correctly, accurately and legibly; help with boat identification, whale ID, boater behavior, and harassment issues. Data sheets include: 1. Whale Watch Vessel Counts 2. Whale Watch Vessel Contact Logs 3. Whale Watch Vessel Incident Log 4. MPA vessel activities and contact Logs SOUNDWATCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Soundwatch Intern Positions: Soundwatch relies heavily on community support in the form of volunteers and interns to be effective in changing boater behaviors around marine wildlife. Volunteers are an integral part of this innovative model of community based marine stewardship. Interns assist the Soundwatch program with all aspects of The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program, both in the field and in the office. Up to four intern positions are available for the season, although some shorter-term positions may also be available. Interns usually spend a minimum of 4 days volunteering with the program both in the office setting and in the field on the patrol boat and/or shore based whale watch areas. Qualifications: College undergraduate and graduate students seeking intern positions for credit and/or program related requirements. Some opportunities are available for recent graduates, research fellows or non-scholastic assistants, but priority will be given to students pursuing degree in related field seeking field experience. Interns work approximately 35-40 hours per week and are required to commit to at least two months, but preferably to the full study period, May-September, plus some training time. Intern Responsibilities: Office tasks include data collating and data entry, preparing educational materials for boaters, distributing educational materials, public outreach, tracking volunteer hours and program activities, and fielding some program questions by phone/email. Fieldwork includes working with Soundwatch staff primarily on data collection on vessel activities around whales and marine protected areas, from a vessel platform and/or shore based observation areas. Data includes commercial and recreational vessel compliance with regional guidelines and regulations as well as vessel and whale surveys. Interns work with other Soundwatch volunteers and are expected to help with some volunteer support activities. Interns will work with a variety of program staff, and will be under the direction of the Soundwatch Program Director. Various circumstances may require intern participation with media interviews, video projects, whale standings or separations, or other public events requiring Soundwatch presence or expertise. Interns must be friendly, with an open attitude since they will speak publicly, assist volunteers, and interact frequently with the public. Interns must have excellent communication skills and have strong leadership potential with a great amount of patience and flexibility. Teaching, writing and boat handling experience are preferred. Intern Requirements: Interns preferably should have some field research experience, prior boating experience and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Access and Excel. Interns should be familiar with the basic use of binoculars, range finders, hand-held GPS units, and digital video camera operation for data collection. In addition, interns must have current First -Aid and CPR training certificates. Applicants should have marine mammal interest/experience as well as interest/experience in issues related to marine wildlife viewing management. Persons interested in the position should be able to withstand exposure in a small boat for up to 8-12 hours a day 3-4 days a week, in harsh weather conditions (sun/rain/bouncing), able to carry approximately 50 lbs. All applicants are required to have a current passport. These positions are un-paid, housing is not provided, and interns must have own transportation. While these internships are not paid positions, they are excellent experience and resume builders. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in scientific research and other related projects such as helping with the marine mammal stranding network and assisting other killer whale researchers. Interns will have the opportunity to attend various meetings and lectures as well as meet other marine mammal scientists. Volunteers will also receive discounts at The Whale Museum store. Eric Eisenhardt Research Curator The Whale Museum Friday Harbor, WA USA 360.378.4710 x33 www.whalemuseum.org