Internship – Native Trout and Aquatic Resource Conservation

Job Description

Job Title: Internship – Native Trout and Aquatic Resource Conservation

Organization: Trout Unlimited

Job Type: Internship

Duration: Seasonal employment from late May through November 2026

Salary: $18/Hour

Location: Upper Delaware River in Pennsylvania, with a specific focus on Pike, Monroe, and Northampton counties. Daily reporting to meet-up locations in these counties will be necessary.

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Job Description

Trout Unlimited is seeking energetic, intelligent, and motivated individuals to join our team for a seasonal internship focused on native trout and aquatic resource conservation in the Upper Delaware River basin. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in field biology, data collection, and watershed science.

Interns will work closely with a dedicated team, assisting with activities vital to the preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The position requires a strong commitment to conservation and an eagerness to work in challenging outdoor environments.

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Work Environment & Conditions

This is a physically demanding field-based position. Interns will typically work 40-hour weeks, often structured as 4 days at 10 hours/day. Key aspects of the work environment include:

• Driving: Frequent driving on rural roads, often with limited cell phone coverage.
• Terrain: Traversing difficult terrain while carrying field gear.
• Physical Exertion: Ability to carry field gear up to 50 pounds.
• Weather: Working in all types of weather conditions.
• Wading: Wading streams and rivers in a variety of flow regimes and weather.
• Travel: Willingness to frequently travel overnight throughout Pennsylvania and potentially neighboring states. Travel (lodging, meals, travel expenses) away from the team’s home range may be provided or reimbursed by TU.
• Housing: This position does not include housing.

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Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be responsible for a range of field and office tasks, including:

• Completing backpack electrofishing surveys for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Unassessed Waters Initiative in the Delaware River basin.
• Conducting culvert assessments using the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol.
• Collecting diverse field data through activities such as electrofishing, water quality sampling, and fish habitat surveys.
• Engaging with landowners and the public to gain access to priority streams for assessment.
• Maintaining rigorous data collection and assessment protocols, and promptly reporting any concerns to the supervisor.
• Maintaining equipment and reporting maintenance/equipment needs to the supervisor.
• Performing data entry and database management, preparing maps, and assisting with reports.
• Providing assistance to other program staff as needed.
• Maintaining a high level of integrity while on the job.

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Requirements & Qualifications

Candidates for this internship should meet the following criteria:

• Education: Current undergraduate, recent graduate, or graduate student pursuing a degree in environmental science, fish and wildlife biology, biology, ecology, or a related field of study.
• Physical Stamina: Demonstrable experience with physically demanding work.
• Driver’s License: A valid driver’s license and the ability to pass background checks for employment.
• Adaptability: Ability to quickly acquire new skills and learn new techniques.
• Work Ethic: Willingness to work long days in outdoor field conditions.
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness to frequently travel overnight throughout Pennsylvania and potentially neighboring states.
• Organizational Skills: Possess strong organizational skills.
• Communication: Strong communication skills, including public interaction.
• Interest: Desire to learn about stream ecology and watershed science.
• Teamwork: Ability to work cooperatively in a team with varied skills, abilities, and perspectives.
• Mindset: Ability to think creatively, keep an open mind, and take constructive criticism.

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Diversity & Inclusion

At Trout Unlimited, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff. We actively seek candidates from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation and those most impacted by degraded rivers and streams. We believe in creating space for all people to participate in our mission to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. Trout Unlimited is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to learn more about TU’s equity practices and values at [https://www.tu.org/equity/](https://www.tu.org/equity/).