We are excited to welcome our Spring 2026 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Sammy, Rebecca, Stacie, and Harrison (pictured from L-R). Here's some more about them:
Anna Hoover graduated from Hamilton College in May 2025 with a degree in Environmental Studies. Originally from Maryland, she has worked in environmental education and conservation in Delaware, Arizona, Montana, New York, and North Carolina. In Delaware, she worked as an environmental education intern at Cape Henlopen State Park, where she led guided hikes, aquatic animal dissections, and helped maintain tanks full of native fish, sharks, turtles, crabs, and more. She is moving to Florida from Montana, where she has been working as an Outdoor Education Specialist in Glacier National Park, guiding educational hikes and programs for people of all ages. Besides this, she has worked as a backpacking trip leader, ropes course ranger, trail crew member, and land and forestry planner. In her free time, Anna loves to hike, run, read, and camp. She is excited to return to the ocean and to get to explore a new place and meet new people who share her passion for nature!
Avery Kruger recently graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in psychology. He had flipped-flopped from environmental science and psychology. It wasn't until a recent study abroad trip to Baja California Sur that he was reawakened to his love for the ocean and conservation. He is interested in research bridging the gap between social science and environmental science and wants to go to graduate school to pursue this. In his free time, he enjoys biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities. He is hoping to get scuba certified and contribute meaningful work to REEF's mission of conservation and education.
Stacie Strombom graduated from Knox College with a B.A. in environmental studies. In college, she studied abroad in Panama, where she became scuba certified. She began her journey as an environmental educator when she interned as an ecology teacher for the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School. She has also led after school programs and camps at South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in Oregon, where she shared her love of the ocean with kids and adults. She is very excited to develop her educational skills and understanding of marine conservation during her time with REEF.
Fellows info here:Rebecca Swartz graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in marine studies. In college she joined a short study abroad course in Palau, where she focused on sustainable resource management and conservation. She also volunteered at the Marine Mammal Care Center, where she led tours and educated the public about the importance of ocean conservation. She also completed Capstone projects on eelgrass restorations throughout Oregon and marine mammal strandings along the coast. Rebecca has had a passion for the ocean since she was young, and is very excited to be part of the the REEF team this fall.
For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.