Summer Volunteer Placements with Cetus’ Robson Bight Warden & Straitwatch Programs!

Cetus Research & Conservation Society is a non-profit marine conservation organization. Cetus is dedicated to protecting the lives of whales in the wild through research, education, and direct intervention. Founded in 2005, Cetus addresses the increasing endangerment of BC's killer whales due to human activities. We focus on one of three key contributors to killer whale endangerment: vessel traffic disturbance. We work in the field to protect whales and other marine mammals from harassment and harm. As vessel traffic in the region increases, our work becomes more and more crucial to their survival. For more information, visit www.cetussociety.org. 

Cetus is seeking to fill the following volunteer placements:

Robson Bight Warden Program/Straitwatch Quadra

Four placements will be based out of a rustic Robson Bight Warden field camp on West Cracroft Island located near Alert Bay, BC and two placements will be based on Quadra Island, BC. We require a commitment to the full season, which runs from approximately mid-June to early-September 2022.

Our programs focus on protecting British Columbia’s marine mammal populations and encouraging others to do the same. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to be involved with a variety of tasks ranging from community outreach and education to marine mammal response and data collection. Students will have the opportunity to work aboard our monitoring vessels where they will participate in data collection and on-the-water boater education. Students based in Robson Bight will also monitor vessel traffic and killer whale presence from our land-based observation platform on West Cracroft Island. 

Responsibilities include:

• Educating boaters, kayakers, and members of the public about the marine mammal viewing guidelines, marine species at risk, and the conservation issues they face
• Collecting and entering data on marine mammals and vessel activity
• Public interpretation and participation in community events
• Observing and recording cetaceans for the BC Cetacean Sightings Network
• Potentially helping to respond to injured, sick, or dead marine mammals in support of the BC Marine Mammal Response Network
• Assisting with general administrative duties
•  General duties including cooking, cleaning, and general upkeep of accommodations 

What skills and experience will students gain? 

• Experience working aboard a monitoring vessel in coastal BC
• Experience participating in land-based marine conservation efforts
• Data collection and data entry using Microsoft Access
• Interpretive skills and techniques
• Experience educating the public on marine conservation issues
• Experience with fundraising and community outreach
• Potential for experience in marine mammal response
• Extensive remote fieldwork experience
• Training opportunities such as Small Vessel Operator course (SVOP), Small Domestic Vessel Safety course (SDV-BS), Marine VHF course (ROC-M), Marine First Aid and/or Wilderness First Aid certifications

Essential Requirements:

• Interest in marine wildlife and conservation
• Flexibility
• Strong communication skills
• Strong observation skills and careful attention to detail
• Ability to work long hours, outdoors, in all weather conditions
• Ability to live and work comfortably in a remote coastal wilderness camp setting with staff and volunteers (Robson Bight team only) 
• Ability to carry 45 lbs of gear between vessels and base camps - this varies from across the street to down a rocky shoreline and up steep trails (Robson Bight team only)
• Ability to hike from the base camp to the observation site on alternate days on a rugged hiking trail (3.2 km each way) which takes approximately 1 hour each way (Robson Bight team only)

Additional Information: Students based on Quadra Island will be provided with accommodation while students based at Robson Bight will be camping in a rustic base camp for the duration of their placements. Those participating in Robson Bight placements will need to bring their own tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag. Tent pads and tarps are provided as well as cooking equipment. Communal dinners are prepared by the field team each evening. Please note these are unpaid positions. Successful candidates will be eligible for funding covering all participant costs associated with travel, living expenses, training opportunities, and personal gear for the duration of the placement through Ocean Bridge Direct Action (https://education.ocean.org/directaction/assignments/1117747).

Eligibility:

• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person granted refugee status in Canada
• Living in Canada for the duration of the program and cannot be out of the country for more than one month consecutively
• 18 to 30 years old at the start date of the program

How to apply: Candidates will be placed through Ocean Bridge Direct Action. Apply to Ocean Bridge Direct Action (https://education.ocean.org/directaction/assignments/1117743) and express your interest in being placed with Cetus’ Robson Bight Warden or Straitwatch Programs. Application deadline is March 11^th, 2022 (11:59 PST). Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews and asked to provide contact details for two references. Thank you for your interest!