Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Tourism and Recreation Internship

Host: Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) is one of 14 special marine protected areas designated and administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). GFNMS manages diverse and productive marine ecosystems through a combination of regulatory and non-regulatory programs. GFNMS programs focus on conducting and coordinating research and monitoring, organizing and carrying out education and outreach within local communities, and, most importantly, ensuring natural and cultural resources are protected while allowing uses that are sustainable.

Location: Based in San Francisco at GFNMS; occasional travel to coastal communities from Southern Mendocino County to San Mateo County.

Internship Dates: June 6 - August 19, 2016; start and end dates flexible with regard to student’s academic commitments.

Stipend: $4,000.00

Time Commitment: The internship is a full time, 11-week commitment. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation or illness. If participation is less than 100%, the stipend will be pro-rated.

Position Description and Responsibilities: One (1) internship is offered with the GFNMS to help the sanctuary implement the President Obama’s Executive Order to increase travel and tourism in the United States. The U.S. travel and tourism industry is a substantial component of U.S. economy and efforts to make America the top tourist destination in the world has focused in part on travel and recreation in the nation’s parks and sanctuaries. San Francisco is an international tourist destination with a multitude of recreational opportunities. With increased tourism and recreation also comes increase pressure on natural resources. The GFNMS has been identified as one of the top marine sanctuaries to promote for tourism and recreation. The Tourism and Recreation Intern will assist the sanctuary in fulfilling the President’s request for increased tourism and recreation while promoting a conservation ethic. The intern will develop a plan to promote tourism and recreation and develop messages for the tourism and recreation industry that promote conservation and stewardship in the sanctuary.   

Under the supervision of the Sanctuary Superintendent and in partnership with the Greater Farallones Association Board, the Tourism and Recreation Intern will develop a marketing plan targeted to the tourism and recreation industry. The Greater Farallones Association Board has a member who owns a marketing company who will be available to provide expert advice while the Superintendent will provide direction and day-to-day supervision. The plan will outline tourism and recreation businesses to target, develop conservation messages about the sanctuary for tourism and recreation business, and develop a list of products needed to promote tourism, recreation, and a conservation ethic in the sanctuary. Specifically, the intern will be responsible for the following additional activities to support implementation of the marketing plan:

1. Develop a library of photos for publication. The intern will be trained to use the sanctuary photo library and will solicit, view, and select photos to be added to the library. The photos will be targeted for use by the tourism and recreation industry in promoting the sanctuary. In some instances the Intern may need to travel into the field to obtain photos such as visitors kayaking, surfing, and boarding.
2. Develop stock language for tourism and recreation publications. The intern will take scientific papers on the biologic productivity of the sanctuary and summarize the information for a lay audience to be used in tourist and recreation publications such as brochures and websites.
3. Obtain visuals such as maps, pictures, and graphics on the sanctuary to include on the sanctuary’s website and to offer to tourism and recreation businesses to promote the sanctuary in the businesses publications.
4. Develop a series of Facebook posts on tourism and recreation to be scheduled throughout the year.
5. Assist the sanctuary with coordinating and promoting “Get Into Your Sanctuary Day,” a daylong social media event on Facebook encouraging people and Congressional members to visit the sanctuary.
6. Update the sanctuary’s How to Experience Your Sanctuary web page content with information, videos, and photos on recreational opportunities in the sanctuary. The intern will provide the web content to the sanctuary web master to post.
7. Develop a list of tourism and recreation purveyors in the sanctuary. Contact tourism and recreation purveyors to include information about the sanctuary in their brochures and in turn the sanctuary will list the business on the sanctuary’s website. Develop a spreadsheet of sanctuary tourism and recreation purveyors with contact information.

Preferred Experience and Capabilities: Knowledgeable about marine ecosystem functions and dynamics and the ability to translate technical information into lay terms for the general public; marine biology or environmental science background; strong writing and communication skills; good photography skills; web design skills desirable but not necessary. No marketing skills necessary. Familiar with Facebook. No other social media skills needed.

Skills Gained: The intern will gain good contacts in the marine tourism and recreation industry and become extremely familiar with recreational opportunities in the sanctuary. The intern will be trained in using photo libraries and web posting (if the intern does not already have the skills). The intern will have the opportunity for his/her photos of recreation in the sanctuary to be published on the web and publications. The intern will also learn how to develop a marketing plan.

Eligibility/Requirements: This internship is geared toward upper class (junior/seniors) and graduate students. Intern must be at least 18 years old and must have a valid driver’s license. The intern must be able to work independently and interact in a professional manner with sanctuary as well as tourism and recreation partners throughout the region. Travel throughout the sanctuary may be required. Applicants are also subject to additional eligibility and requirements that can be found here.

Applicants are also subject to additional eligibility and requirements that can be found here.

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