When I was 6th grade, my entire Middle School class (all 51 of us) went on a whale watch trip. It was supposed to be a good way for the class to bond, but it ended up creating more cliquiness. The Cape Cod weather in September was delightful, but the seas were apparently a little too rough for whale watching. We spent a lot of time buying taffy and other novelties instead. On the last day we were able to get out for half a day of whale watching. The seas were still rough, so the teachers encouraged all of us to take half a tablet of dramamine. Being the manly 6th grade man that I was, I decided that I would take a full tablet. For some of my classmates the half tablet wasn’t enough, and they spent most of the boat ride with their heads over the railing technicolor yawning. I, on the other hand, fell right to sleep – a side effect of the dramamine. I woke up just long enough to see the 2 whales that we encountered, and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my nap. Those were the first whales that I’d ever seen, but I’ve seen some since, and I’m always absolutely amazed by them. If you’re fascinated by whales (and not susceptible to seasickness), an internship with The Whale Center of New England might be a great way to spend this fall or spring.
The Whale Center of New England is a nonprofit research organization located in Gloucester, MA. They’re involved with the study of behavior, ecology, and natural history of the whales and dolphins found in the waters off of Massachusetts. Most of their research is focused on an individually-identified population of humpback whales that spends portions of the spring, summer, and fall in Massachusetts waters. They also study other local species including fin whales, minke whales, North Atlantic right whales, sei whales and Atlantic white-sided dolphins.
Fall internships at the Whale Center run from August 18th – December 19th, and Spring internships run from February 2nd – May 29th. There are also Summer internships available next year, if you’re looking far forward. The internship experiences depending on which season you intern with the Whale Center, but you can find full descriptions of Fall, Spring, and Summer internships on the Whale Center of New England’s Internships page. In general, interns get a chance to gain the experience needed to pursue fields in marine biology and animal behavior further. Interns work hand in hand with Whale Center staff to gain “valuable information important to the marine mammal field and to see how this information is used in management and conservation efforts.” Interns typically respond to “strandings of marine mammals (training provided), participate in animal necropsies (when possible), and attend meetings and conferences related to marine mammal research and conservation.”
Interns are provided housing at the cost of $1,000 for the semester (it seems that this is mandatory, though). There is, however, a weekly food stipend. The hours can be long, and you better have your sea legs if you want to intern with the whale center. The application process is a little more detailed than that of most internships, so be sure to pay attention to the details on the Whale Center’s Internships page.
Links to Help You Begin Your Research
Have you ever been on a whale watch? Did you fall asleep? Throw up? See whales?
Do I Know Anyone at Whale Center of New England? - Check LinkedIn | Check Facebook
Tags: animals, biology, Internships, Massachusetts, non-profit, research, unpaid, zoology
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