Reef Relief Announces Three 2026 Spring Interns for Keys Conservation and Education

Reef Relief announced the addition of three spring interns to its Key West staff to support volunteer events, fundraising, community outreach and Spring Break Coral Camp. The hire bolsters the nonprofit’s capacity to run school field trips, maintain marine park buoys and expand local marine education at a time when hands-on conservation work remains vital to Monroe County’s coastal resilience.

Reef Relief identified the interns as Rebekah Galvin, Malerie Scammey and Sage Hanley. Rebekah Galvin grew up in Kissimmee, Florida and "graduated in the fall from the University of Central Florida with a degree in biology, concentrating in ecology, evolutionary and conservation biology." Galvin’s background includes service as a substitute teacher and as an education ambassador, experience Reef Relief says will support work with children at classroom programs and Spring Break Coral Camp.

Malerie Scammey comes to Reef Relief from Orlando and is originally from Kansas. She "is pursuing her associate in arts degree at Santa Fe College, with plans to obtain a bachelor of science degree in wildlife ecology." Scammey has worked as an interpretive ranger and park guide at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and has led kayak eco-tours. Notably, one source spells her last name "Scamney"; Reef Relief has been asked to confirm the correct spelling.

Sage Hanley was raised in Stuart, Florida and moved to Key West three years ago to pursue a degree in marine environmental technology at the College of the Florida Keys. Hanley is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine resource management and "is in her final semester, completing her capstone project with Reef Relief as an education intern." Hanley’s capstone placement ties academic training directly to Reef Relief’s public programs and school outreach.

Reef Relief’s internship program runs on seasonal terms listed as "Fall (September-December) & Spring (January-May)" and places interns in person in Key West. Program responsibilities include organizing and staffing events, presenting classroom lessons on marine science, assisting in school field trips to the Key West Marine Park, the barrier reef off Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park, helping to run Spring Break Coral Camp, and maintaining the Key West Marine Park buoys as needed. The organization describes the role as "a great opportunity to gain hands on experience in marine education and conservation." The site also notes, "We currently are not accepting applications from candidates outside North America."

For Monroe County residents, the new interns mean more capacity for hands-on reef education for local students, increased support for volunteer restoration and maintenance efforts, and additional staff at community outreach events. Reef Relief’s seasonal staffing also aligns with calendar patterns used by other regional conservation groups, which run structured spring internships to match school schedules.

What comes next is more visible outreach: expect interns at summer and spring events and at the next Spring Break Coral Camp. Prospective applicants and volunteers should contact Reef Relief directly to confirm program dates, application details and the correct spelling of intern names.