Description

Cape Ann Whale Watch is accepting applications for its Field Research and Environmental Education Internship. Based in Gloucester, Ma, our whale watch boat takes between 150 and 250 passengers a day on whale watches in and around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We work to educate passengers on whales, marine mammals, and the marine environment to foster a sense of importance and personal responsibility in doing a part to contribute to the wellbeing of the environment. Passengers aboard the Hurricane II are an extremely diverse group of people ranging from elementary school children to families from across the globe. Up to four interns and one naturalist on every trip help accomplish our goal of educating people about whales and fostering a stronger appreciation and respect for whales and the ocean environment. With this newfound respect and appreciation, the team of educators also hopes to positively influence how the passengers regard the environment and to increase their role in helping to preserve it. The whales and the environment have a better chance of surviving if we can change the attitudes and behaviors of our passengers. In order to accomplish this goal, the interns circulate the boat with hands-on teaching tools to educate the public about whales and their environment. To give an idea of what we use: There are samples of whale baleen and teeth for passengers to touch. A 3-D model of Stellwagen Bank allows people to better understand why whales migrate to the coast of Massachusetts. Our whale tail identification board allows passengers to become scientists and test their skills at matching whale tails. Once the actual whale watching begins, the naturalist provides educational interpretive commentary while the interns collect data on whale behavior and identification for our research project. The interns are also on board to answer questions on a wide variety of topics, on everything from whale behavior to whale conservation. Finally, the interns are expected to help with the general functioning of the whale watching vessel.