Outreach Intern

Ocean Wise Conservation is seeking an Outreach Intern in Toronto, ON, to promote environmental protection through education and community engagement. The role involves organizing Shoreline Champion events, engaging volunteers, collecting data, and delivering climate-focused educational programming. This part-time fixed-term position requires strong organizational skills and public speaking abilities. The internship runs from April 21, 2025, to October 31, 2025, with guaranteed 15 hours per week.
We need the ocean. The ocean needs us. Role Summary As the Ocean Wise Outreach Intern, you will play a critical role in advancing environmental protection by education and mobilizing youth and communities across Canada to take action for ocean health and climate resilience. Through immersive, hands-on education and direct engagement in shoreline conservation, you will support the protection and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems. You will support our Shoreline Champion events, which bring together volunteers, partners, and community members to take direct action in removing pollutants from shorelines and promoting environmental stewardship. Supporting events will involve organizing and hosting events, engaging volunteers, collecting data, and contributing to impact reporting, all of which help reduce plastic pollution and support ecosystem restoration. You will also deliver climate-focused education programming, including the Sea Dome National Tour, a portable planetarium experience that immerses participants in 360-degree ocean footage and interactive marine exhibits. Please note this is a part-time fixed-term contract position with a guaranteed 15 hours per week from April 21st, 2025 - October 31st, 2025. Additional hours may be available depending on program needs. Who You Are You are a passionate ocean conservationist comfortable leading events and public speaking in front of varying audiences. You have a knack for building relationships and engaging community while ensuring accurate data collection and engaging students with interactive programming. What You Will Be Doing Shoreline Champion Events and Conservation Action Plan and host Shoreline Champion events that actively reduce plastic and other pollutants from aquatic environments. Engage with volunteers, community members, and partners to promote participation in shoreline conservation. Collect cleanup data, contributing to national tracking or plastic pollution and informing conservation efforts and policy advocacy. Assist with inventory tracking and logistics for cleanup supplies and support impact reporting to demonstrate environmental outcomes. Environmental Education and Outreach Assist in delivering the Ocean Wise Education programming, engaging students and the public with immersive ocean conservation experiences. Facilitate interactive learning sessions in schools and communities focused on climate action, ocean health and individual impact. Support additional educational initiatives, including virtual aqua classes and youth workshops, to expand the program 's reach and accessibility. What You Bring Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating events. Demonstrated experience in education, interpretative delivery, or a related field. Comfortability with public speaking in front of large audiences ranging from corporate partners to youth. Strong organizational skills. Valid driver 's license and access to a reliable vehicle are required. Assets: Experience with community outreach. Experience with data collection. How You Will Be Measured Ability to effectively support in planning and hosting Shoreline Champion events, ensuring seamless logistics and positive relationships with partners Successful achievement of program goals and objectives including reaching event delivery targets and litter data collection rates Accurate and organized contribution to the Ocean Wise Shoreline Litter Database Consistent delivery of engaging and impactful education programs, reflected in participant and client feedback. Achievement of program goals and objectives, including participant reach, knowledge acquisition, and intent for behaviour change. Maintenance of high safety standards and operational readiness for the Sea Dome, vehicles, and materials. What We Offer This part-time, fixed-term contract position offers: A remote working environment when not leading in person events. 15 hours of guaranteed work per week with opportunity for additional hours depending on program needs. A competitive base salary, $39,000 - $42,900, in line with market data for not-for-profit organizations Vacation pay in lieu of vacation days. 5 paid sick days after 90 days of employment. The opportunity to be part of a team that 's helping to save the ocean! Where and How You 'll Work This is a part-time position with a guaranteed 15 hours per week with the opportunity for additional hours depending on program needs. This is a remote-first position with the possibility to work at our headquarters in downtown Vancouver, if desired. The role requires flexibility to travel for meetings and/or to work occasional weekends and evenings to attend Ocean Wise shoreline cleanups, education activations, events, and conferences. The role involves driving, sitting, standing, and talking for prolonged periods, exposure to outdoor environments with seasonal temperature fluctuations, and lifting heavy objects on a daily basis (up to 20 kgs to chest level). It also involves working on a computer screen for extended durations. Regular travel is required for program delivery; a valid driver 's license is essential. Who We Are Ocean Wise is a global conversation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Learn more about us at ocean.org. Inclusion and Diversity At Ocean Wise, we believe that a welcoming and diverse workplace fosters the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented. We encourage applications from individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.