KERRY MACKIN INTERNSHIP
Spend summer on the river!
Each year the Ipswich River Watershed Association seeks out a motivated individual with strong interest in environmental science and education to join our team as our Kerry Mackin Intern.
12 week, paid Environmental Education intern:
The intern will facilitate local youth groups to use our canoes for outings on the river and offer educational programs for groups on site as well as offsite. The intern will also lead beginner paddling events and assist with other duties as needed.
This position offers a chance to gain on-the-ground experience in leadership, environmental stewardship and education while making a lasting contribution with a community driven environmental non-profit organization.
PRIMARY DUTIES
- Help plan and facilitate canoe and kayak outings for local youth, civic and out-of-school groups.
- Plan and provide customized, structured instruction to youth groups on and off-site in indoor and outdoor settings.
- Organize and lead occasional Ipswich River events and outings for adults.
- Assist staff with additional outreach, restoration or river monitoring tasks as needed, including invasive species removal, water quality monitoring, and maintaining an organized fleet of kayaks and canoes.
- Help to maintain the rain gardens, native plants, and Low-Impact-Development demonstration projects at our headquarters.
Applications are open for the 2025 Summer Season!
TESTIMONIALS
"I can honestly say that each day [brought] something new... I [was] excited to come to work every morning and discover how a non-profit functions... [most of my friends were] waiting tables, mowing lawns, and babysitting while on the other hand I [was] sitting in on board meetings, running my own program, and creating educational tools."
-Grace Evans
"When I began my position as a summer intern at Ipswich River Watershed Association, I had no idea what was in store for the next few weeks. I have learned more than I possibly could have imagined: from how to properly hold a kayak paddle to how to classify macroinvertebrates with a dichotomous key to how to garden on a roof."
-Tessa Devoe
"I have learned so much about the Ipswich River and its water protectors during these last two months. [...] IRWA has shown me the nitty and gritty of water life and stewardship. Most important of all, I have learned how to apply environmental education in practice. Allowing students to feel, to engage, and to question the natural world has completely changed my own view of sustainability. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to design and implement lesson plans of my own creation. "
-Margot Kelly
With dogged persistence, Executive Director Kerry Mackin worked to keep the Ipswich River out of danger for decades. Kerry retired from her job in 2012, but not from loving rivers. Kerry was passionate about educating young people to become the next generation of river protectors. That's why, with your help, we've built up a fund to support an annual Kerry Mackin environmental education intern!
You can celebrate Kerry's inspiring leadership and build the next generation of river leaders by making a gift to our education program in her honor.
