High School Internships
Registration for high school internships is open as of March 17!
ASI’s high school internship program is a unique opportunity for students ages 14-18 who are interested in exploring research, wildlife, and conservation-related career paths. Students receive training in basic field research techniques including nest monitoring, bird banding, and recording and managing data.
Interns work alongside Alaska Songbird Institute biologists, other interns, and our youth volunteers on the Swallow Ecology Project. Together we monitor up to 70 active Tree Swallow nests, from egg laying and hatching through the fledging of chicks. Interns are responsible for checking nest boxes, recording and entering data, and assisting with bird capture and banding. Interns who progress with their skills learn to take morphological measurements and band birds.
Schedule and Details
We ask that each intern volunteers at least 8-10 hours per week. There is no upper limit for volunteer hours, and interns who volunteer a minimum of 85 hours per season will earn a $500 stipend. Morning shifts are 2-3 hours at Creamer’s Field and afternoon shifts are 2-3 hours at UAF. The busiest field work is expected to be approximately June 12-30. Interns must be available for most of this time, as well as during the first two weeks of July for fledge checks and data entry.
Our applications for Summer 2025 open on March 17th. This year, the program will run from May 12- July 18th. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting immediately, until all spots are filled. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate out of state applicants due to lack of housing and transportation. We ask that all applicants provide two letters of recommendation. Please submit all completed forms at latest by midnight on Sunday, April 27th. Email any questions, letters of recommendation, and application forms to programs@aksongbird.org. Applications are attached below.