Virginia Oyster Gardening Intern

Description

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a VA Oyster Gardening Intern in the Advocacy and Restoration Department to be based at the CBF's Brock Environmental Center located in Virginia Beach, VA.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally after decades of failed efforts be removed from the Clean Water Act s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 230 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 14 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary. 

CBF's headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world s first U.S. Green Build Council s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center one of the world s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 200,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Advocacy and Restoration

Advocacy and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay s natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities by fighting for strong and effective laws and regulations; restoring the Bay s essential habitats and filtering mechanisms; and involving citizens in CBF s environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION 

The Oyster Gardening Intern will assist CBF staff with the planning and execution of our Oyster Gardening Program and large-scale restoration.  CBF s Oyster Gardening Program is a community-based program that teaches community members how to grow and care for oysters to be used in restoration projects throughout Virginia. About half of the work will take place at CBF s Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, assisting CBF staff with the administrative aspects of this program, including volunteer engagement, event planning, and other administrative tasks. Half of the work will be outside in the field, helping prepare restoration materials for the oyster gardening program. The Oyster Gardening Intern must be prepared to attend all oyster gardening events, which include some weeknights and weekends.

Requirements

• Assist with management of the oyster gardening email inbox, field phone calls, and assist with oyster gardening content and outreach.
• Help answer questions from prospective and current gardeners including event registration support.
• Assist with scouting and recruiting new public oyster gardening locations.
• Attend and help CBF Oyster Team staff manage all oyster gardening events.
• Assist in recruiting and training volunteers for oyster gardening events.
• Help prepare materials for each event including advocacy asks, spat-on-shell, cages, spreadsheets, etc.
• Complete general office/administrative support, including data entry and filing, digital and material organization, among other tasks.
• Assist with other hands-on restoration activities including spat-on-shell production, oyster planting, shell recycling, etc.
• Assist with large scale restoration activities.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Successful candidate should have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; an ability to work effectively with staff and volunteers, as well as independently. Excellent time management skills are essential in order to handle multiple, concurrent projects. Applicants must be a recent graduate or actively enrolled in school and working toward a degree.  Familiarity with Excel, Word, and Outlook required. We seek a creative thinker interested in learning about the Chesapeake Bay as well as furthering the Foundation s mission to "Save the Bay.  

This internship will begin in late May/early June 2026 and end in August 2026. The exact start and end dates are negotiable. The successful candidate must have reliable daily transportation for travel to CBF s Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach. In addition, to help manage oyster gardening events, this position must work some weeknights and Saturdays in the months of June, July, and August. Housing is not provided. Due to the physical capacity of this job, interns must be comfortable lifting 50 pounds and be in good physical condition to work outside in all elements during the summer. 

Salary Range: $17 an hour

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than February 27, 2026.