Harbor WildWatch in Gig Harbor was able to utilize the Hire Pierce County: Next Gen program to hire an intern to serve as an Operations Assistant for their Visitor & Interpretive Center.

“We are currently experiencing a volunteer shortage due to the pandemic, so having an intern to open/close and operate the facility was absolutely crucial to our operations this summer,” said Executive Director Lindsey Stover. “We would not have been able to keep regular open hours without this program and our amazing intern!”

Harbor WildWatch is an environmental education organization dedicated to inspiring stewardship for Puget Sound and the greater Salish Sea. The organization said they participated in the Next Gen program because it aligned with their goals.

“Our vision includes being a catalyst for environmental education, which includes assisting young people in entering the field to carry on our legacy,” Stover said. “We firmly believe in paid internships to ensure all young people have the opportunity to get experience in the field, not just those who have the personal resources to accept an unpaid position.”