Volunteer Internship
Volunteer Internship
As well as being a non-profit organisation, the World Cetacean Alliance is also a global partnership, consisting of responsible whale watching tour operators, NGOs, researchers and individuals, all with a passion for protecting cetaceans and their habitats.
As a volunteer or intern with a WCA Partner tour operator, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in collaboration with people who share your dedication to marine wildlife and sustainable practices.
WCA Partner tour operators are focused on creating high-quality, responsible whale and dolphin watching experiences and have joined the WCA to be part of that change. These Partners need volunteers who are passionate about helping to ensure that the world’s cetaceans have a sustainable future.
As a volunteer or intern with one of the 120+ WCA Partners, your skills and attributes will be honed in a positive environment.
WCA Partners are focused on quality Responsible Whale and dolphin experiences and have joined the WCA to be part of that change. We need volunteers who are passionate about helping to ensure our Cetaceans have a Sustainable future.
Some of the key advantages include:
- You will receive assistance when submitting a job application to any of the WCA Partner tour operators.
- A chance to grow your knowledge and skills in the sustainable tourism industry.
- Exploring different roles of Certified Marine Guide or Guest Services Sales and Marketing to see what you would like to pursue.
- Gain insight into the way that tourism businesses operate and the challenges they face on a daily basis.
- The opportunity to create a network of contacts and work opportunities.
- Gaining valuable, first-hand work experience to set you apart from other candidates in a job application process.
- Acquiring university module credits.
- Applying the concepts and strategies of academic study in a live working environment.
Volunteer and internships available globally
Volunteer Internship – Marine Guide Training, New Zealand
Duration: 8- 12 Weeks – 90 days Initial can be extended
Terms: Tourism Experience and Supervised Training
Time: 7.30am – 5.30pm ( 40 hours approximately a week )
Price: FREE – Unpaid / Volunteer
20 Hours in Guest Services and 20 Hours as a Trainee Guide ( 4 Tours )
Tour Value for 90 days is 50 Tour or $6500 for FREE to become fully trained.
Qualifiers: Application to Marine Guide Training. If you love wildlife and tourism want a career then give us 90 days or 12 weeks of your time. We will train you to become a fully employable Marine Guide Training professional. You will receive the experience and qualifications which you can use Worldwide.
Internships Available
Guest Services and Marketing and Marine Guide Training Certified Wildlife Guide
Employment after Internship
If you complete a successful internship and positions are available with Marine Guide Training then you are first in line. If no position is available then we will help you to secure a position with the WCA global community which has over 100 partners.
Location: Marine Guide Training Base and in Queen Charlotte Sound
Base:
No 1 Wellington Street, Picton, New Zeland.
Phone +64 3 5738040
To Apply
Email: paul@e-ko.nz
Mobile: 0064297770088
SKYPE: captainpaulkeating
Whatsapp: 0064297770088
Accommodation
E-Ko accommodation is available upon application if available for the duration of your internship, please request upon application.
Location: Piwaka Lodge
Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Phone +64 3 9293749
Special E-Ko Training Price $250 for 7 nights
Sunday Night to Friday night. This includes two healthy meals a day.
This is a quality, safe choice within walking distance from Marine Guide Training. Upgrade options available upon request.
Flats and Private Homes are also available locally and we have a list of accommodation providers in Picton – see Partners
Internship Overview
Marine Guide Training will supply you with the necessary work experience and skills required to make you a valuable Tourism employee. The investment of your time as a Volunteer/Intern with Marine Guide Training will that you will be a quality Candidate.
As a volunteer / Intern your skills and attributes will be honed in a positive work environment that is focused on quality Guest services. Marine Guide Training tours focus on quality sustainable tourism through Wildlife encounters gives you the best possible start in the exciting Tourism Industry.
You will be immersed in hands-on training with experienced Trainers. Marine Guide Training base for learning about Guest Services, Sales and Marketing and then out in the beautiful Queen Charlotte with guests looking for wildlife. You will learn and practice the best Guiding technique and develop your own personal style and skills to ensure that you have the confidence and knowledge to embark on a fantastically satisfying Global Tourism Career.
FREE BONUS for Volunteer Internships
All Interns have FREE tours available with Marine Guide Training. When you are not working you get to go out and enjoy the best NZ has to offer. We can also get you FREE mountain bike and kayak hire to go exploring. In winter we will take you skiing and looking for whales in summer swimming with dolphins.
Connected to a global network
This Internship is the perfect start to an incredibly satisfying career or a great way to prepare for volunteering with one of the 120 organisations who are part of the World Cetacean Alliance. WCA
Internship Dates
12 Weeks for 1 period which can be extended to 24 Weeks. 3 to 6 Months.
Paid positions available with Marine Guide Training upon completion of Internship upon application:
November 1st- 25th January 2022 (12 Weeks)
February 1st – 25th April 2022 (12 Weeks)
Internships
Aims and Purpose of the E-Ko Tours Internship & Volunteer Program:
An internship/volunteer program has been established at Marine Guide Training to provide quality tourism candidates.
We will install enthusiasm, practical knowledge, and a sustainable ethic and you will receive valuable experience in wildlife, adventure tourism, and nature/eco-tourism both on Sea and on Land industries.
Volunteers interns will be supervised to gain hands-on experience and contribute to all major aspects of the business, including tours on the water, equipment maintenance, office work, marketing, conservation, research, and customer service.
Internship Benefits
- You will receive assistance with a Job application to any of the 120 organisation whom for the World Cetacean Alliance globally. WCA Partners
- A chance to develop your knowledge and skills in the Tourism industry
- Exploring different roles of Certified Guide or Guest Services to see what you would like to pursue.
- Getting insight into the way Tourism businesses work and what challenges they face on a daily basis
- The opportunity to create a network of contacts and work opportunities
- Gaining valuable Quality work experience to set you apart from other candidates.
- Acquiring university module credits.
- Applying the concepts and strategies of academic study in a live-work environment.
How to Apply
To Recieve Full Details for the Volunteer Internship
- An email with your CV and a nice recent photo to: paul@e-ko.nz
- Fill in Below contact form
What Subjects we Cover for internships
Internship for Guest Services, Sales and Marketing Internship Responsibilities:
- Bookings in Marine Guide Training Shop and daily schedule updates
- Sales in Marine Guide Training office and local accommodation providers
- Mail Chimp sales
- Community Management – Social Media/Email
- Respond to all social media and email/chat comments/questions
- Appropriately – answer questions, like comments etc, within one working hour
- Using the Marine Guide Training tone of voice (kiwi, friendly)
- Proactively engage with potential customers appropriately
- Instagram/Facebook
- Post 1 or more images daily
- Use appropriate hashtags (Instagram)
- Grow our organic reach via the appropriate use of hashtags, following other accounts (Instagram)
- Seek posts from potential customers in Picton, and engage if appropriate
- Blog
Produce a detailed blog once per month, working with Digital Marketing Manager on content/copy ideas - Video Content
Produce regular (TBC) short/snackable video content for use on Marine Guide Training social media platforms (instagram, etc)
Internship for Marine Guide Training Trainee Guide
The trainee guide is new to guiding and/or guiding with Marine Guide Training. As a Trainee Guide, you will learn the roles and procedures required of the guiding position. This will include the following:
- Learn and practice delivering the commentary on all trips offered by Marine Guide Training
- Learn the various checklist systems
- Learn and undertake tasks required of a crew member on board the boat (including working the ropes, mooring/unmooring, cleaning, care of equipment, emergency procedures, etc.)
- Assisting guides on all trips while learning the general procedures
- Pre-tour set-up on both boat and office depending on the tour.
- Pre-tour wetsuit and mask fitting for guests. Learning how to check the swimming forms and procedures in the event of irregularities or issues highlighted by the swim forms.
- Learning safe swim procedures – including setting up the back deck for dolphin swimming, safety briefing, safe swim procedures, emergency procedures, a swimmer in distress procedures and communicating with the skipper.
- Learning proper searching techniques for dolphins and other wildlife.
- Learn to spot, identify and distinguish between the species present in the Queen Charlotte Sound, both on land and in the marine environments.
- Learn to understand and identify animal behaviours – particularly dolphins.
- Become familiar with the Marine Mammal Regulations and how to behave around marine mammals in the water.
By the end of the ‘Trainee’ period, the guide should have competently learned all the above procedures and be able to undertake trips with the support of another guide or target assessment for a paid Guide position.
You will be assessed within the Marine Guide Training Guiding system and Certified as an Marine Guide Training Guide for land and Sea.
