Testing the Waters in Marine Wildlife Conservation

By Kate Hruby, Communication and Education Coordinator

Education and Outreach Interns, Tessa and Olivia, on the left. Animal Husbandry Interns, Lily and Soline, on the right.

Summer is a busy time at SR3. Not only do we have the most patients in care during the sunny months, but it’s also when we’re most frequently out in the community, participating in farmers markets, fairs, field education programs and presentations. Volunteers and interns ensure success in all these endeavors, and we recently sat down with our past interns to chat about their experiences.

What inspired you to apply for SR3's internship? 

Olivia Kilby, a 2025 Education and Outreach Intern: Being from a landlocked state, I wanted to “test the waters” in marine wildlife and conservation. I wanted to broaden my knowledge, challenge myself in a new environment, and gain the kind of hands-on experience that you can only get by working directly near ocean life.

Can you share a favorite memory that captures what this experience meant to you? 

Olivia: My favorite moments were always at Marine Mammal Stewards - especially when a seal, whale, porpoise, or any marine mammal came into view. Watching people react to these animals, whether it was their hundredth sighting or their very first, was absolutely priceless. There’s something magical about seeing curiosity spark instantly the moment someone spots a fin, flipper, or tail. Getting to share the beauty, significance, and stories of these marine mammals while people were experiencing them in real time was incredibly rewarding.

In what ways has this internship shaped your goals or prepared you for your future career? 

Olivia: This internship has taught me how to listen. I used to believe that education and outreach were all about talking—about sharing facts, telling stories, and delivering information. But I quickly learned that listening is what truly opens the door to meaningful conversations about conservation. By listening to people’s questions, concerns, and personal connections to wildlife, I was able to meet them where they were and create genuine dialogue. Real impact begins with understanding the people you’re trying to reach.

Interns also conduct a project throughout the summer. For Olivia’s project, she followed the story of a harbor seal pup from rescue to release, and created educational flyers explaining marine mammal rehabilitation and how people can protect these animals in the wild.

Animal husbandry intern projects often center around patients at the Rescue Center. Soline Baly, who was completing her Master of Professional Science at the time of her internship, analyzed the use of radiographs (x-ray imaging) as a diagnostic tool when animals come into care. 

Soline presenting her research project as part of her Master of Professional Science at the University of Miami.

“This internship gave me the push and confidence I need to pursue this career at full speed,” said Soline, a 2025 Animal Husbandry Intern. “I walked in not sure if this experience would confirm if this was what I truly wanted and walked out immediately wanting to come back next season.”

As a small non-profit funded by the community, our volunteers and interns make sure the important conservation, education, and animal care happening at SR3 gets done. As summarized by Soline, “Volunteers and interns are the heart and soul of this facility. Along with the wonderful staff, everyone at SR3 is 110% into the cause.”

Want to join us? Internship applications are open until February 2nd. 

If you’re interested in volunteering, training for those roles begin in March.