(Photo by Nita Settina, Center for Ecosystem Recovery)
The Chesapeake Bay Internship Program (CBIP) develops the next generation of impactful environmental leaders by forming a connected cohort of interns working for organizations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The CBIP builds community and supports professional growth through mentorship, professional development, and networking. Interns will participate in a shared orientation, educational workshops, end-of-summer symposium, and cohort meet-ups. These experiences are designed to complement the internship work completed with the host organization and give interns a deeper look into how science, policy, education, and action come together to support Bay health.
How does CBIP work?
The Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) partners with organizations across the watershed that host their own internships, advertised below. Students apply for internship opportunities directly through the host organizations. Once hired, interns from partner organizations automatically become part of the CBIP cohort, joining peers from other Bay-focused groups. Through shared programming, mentorship, and networking, interns gain support, skills, and a sense of community that strengthen their impact and connection to the Chesapeake Bay.
Summer Internship Opportunities
We will post a complete list of internship opportunities from participating partner organizations for Summer 2026 here as they become available. Applicants should follow the links to consult individual host organizations directly for information, points of contact, applications, and deadlines.
~ Come back soon to see participating internships at our partner organizations for Summer 2026. ~
2026 Internship Opportunties
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and Friends of Jug Bay Internships
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is a natural area operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It is also one of three sites that comprise the Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR-MD). It contains different habitats including open water, tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens. Jug Bay is located in the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River (about 43 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay). Every year, the Friends of Jug Bay fund two-four Research and one Environmental Education and Interpretation summer internships. These internships advance the Sanctuary’s knowledge on topics of interest regarding its natural resources and social history.
Internships are open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students and run for approximately 10-12 weeks between May-August. Students applying for the Research track will submit a short proposal on a specific topic/question; one-page resume; copies of unofficial transcripts; and two letters of recommendation. For the Education track, students have the same application requirements, but will submit a letter of interest instead of a proposal and provide environmental education and/or interpretation portfolio examples.
The deadline for submitting applications is March 27th, 2026. Please visit Jug Bay’s website: https://jugbay.org/internships-2/ for more information about internship topics, application and requirements.
Contact for the Research Track: Patricia Delgado (rpdelg88@aacounty.org).
Contact for the Education Track: Beth Sieglinger (rpsieg21@aacounty.org).
Arundel Rivers Federation Internships
Want to spend a summer on a boat monitoring the health of our rivers, at summer camps helping kids navigate unique environmental experiences, or in an underwater grass processor prepping grass seeds for restoration projects? Then join Arundel Rivers as one of their 2026 Summer Interns!
They are hiring two college-level interns who will be embedded within their monitoring and outreach teams for 24 hours each week for up to 12 weeks between mid-May and mid-August with flexible start and end dates. Interns will have an opportunity to learn from leaders in the environmental field as they contribute to critical environmental programming. Read more about both internship opportunities on Arundel Rivers website: https://www.
Underwood & Associates Summer 2026 Science & Research Internship
Underwood & Associates is seeking an inquisitive, motivated undergraduate student or recent graduate for its Summer Science & Research Internship. This paid 12-week internship runs approximately from mid-May through mid-August, and offers hands-on experience in ecosystem restoration and applied scientific research. The intern will design and carry out an independent research project studying stream-wetland restorations or constructed living shorelines, all while being mentored by Underwood & Associates’ science team. Project work may include literature review, hypothesis development, experimental design, fieldwork and data collection, data synthesis, and presentation of findings. The intern may also participate in ongoing monitoring efforts, research meetings, and outreach activities, gaining exposure to real-world ecosystem restoration work.
This opportunity is ideal for candidates with interests in environmental science, ecosystem restoration, wetland science, ecology, botany, biology, hydrology, geographical sciences, or related fields. Prior research experience is not required. The internship is based in-person in Millersville, Maryland but occasional opportunities for remote work may be available. Reliable transportation to the jobsite is required.
Apply by February 28th, 2026.
To apply, email your résumé and cover letter to Camille Calure at camille@ecosystemrestoration.com
For full position details, please refer to the original job posting at https://www.ecosystemrestoration.com/jobs
2026 Partners
Program Structure
CRC works with organizations to design shared experiences and learning opportunities for all members of the cohort. Programming typically runs from late May/early June through mid August to accommodate varying schedules.
- Shared Orientation at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC, hybrid).
- Bi-Weekly “Lunch & Learn” Sessions featuring professionals from science, policy, communication, and leadership fields. Past session topics include Networking and Informational Interviews, Creating Your Brand, Science Communication, and Career Readiness Workshops.
- Lunch Bunch Gatherings for informal cohort connection.
- Summer Symposium where interns present their work to mentors, peers, and the broader Bay community.
CBIP cultivates impactful environmental leaders by building skills in five proven Core Competencies (Multicultural Awareness, Civic Responsibility, Ethical Behavior, Systems Thinking, and Professional Development) relevant to environmental restoration through mentoring, programming, and evaluation.
Testimonials
“I feel strongly that without [this program], I would not be where I am today. This internship opened so many doors for me in my professional career and showed me how I could conduct science that made a difference.”
“[This program] provided me with the opportunity to not only benefit from the pertinent information shared during Lunch and Learns and Lunch Bunch sessions, but also to network with people I otherwise would never have interacted with…I learned a lot about other perspectives regarding conservation and the Chesapeake Bay, and made connections that I still maintain.”
“[This program] gave me the opportunity to bond with others in my field and meet lots of new professionals!”
Building from C-StREAM
As a part of CRC’s mission to create pathways for students and early career professionals, the Chesapeake Student Recruitment, Early Advisement, and Mentoring (C-StREAM) program ran from 2018 to 2025 in order to support the career development of college students from underrepresented communities. During its successful seven years, C-StREAM matched over 75 students pursuing degrees in environmental science, policy, communication, and other related fields with mentors at Bay-focused organizations to complete meaningful internship projects. The C-StREAM program expanded CRC’s capacity and expertise to design and manage impactful internship experiences, which informed the structure of the Chesapeake Bay Internship Program. To read more about the C-StREAM program and review the projects presented by fellows at the annual Summer Symposium click the button below.