We are open today from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

BE ADVISED: On Saturday, September 26, the LA Memorial Coliseum will host the USC vs. Oregon football game. Kickoff is at 4:30 pm. This event will impact traffic, parking, and wayfinding in the area due to street closures. Please consider riding the Metro E (Expo) Line and exiting at USC/Expo station.

Marine Teens Internship

Two logos, Natural History Museum Los Angeles County in black letters against a white square and Marine Teens in white letters, against a blue background with sea creatures and people doing water activities

NHMLAC’s Education Outreach team launched the Marine Teens internship in 2019 thanks to the generosity of the Vera R. Campbell Foundation. 

Each year, Education Outreach recruits a cohort of ten high school juniors and seniors who attend school or live in Boyle Heights. The cohort includes eight first-year interns and two returning interns who step into a leadership role as Peer Mentors. As paid NHMLAC employees, the Marine Teens develop an interpretive marine science project and share it with Museum guests.

  • Program goals for the interns include to: 
    Gain exposure to museum research, collections, interpretation, program development, and facilitation;
  • Acquire critical knowledge and skills that will enhance their academic achievement and broaden their future career options and work preparedness;
  • Gain a greater understanding of their strengths, interests, and potential career paths;
  • Be empowered to go back to their communities and share their knowledge using the critical thinking and communication skills they have gained.
  • Additional goals for Peer Mentors include to: 
    Enhance understanding of the Museum’s role in the community through participation in NHM education outreach programs;
  • Acquire leadership skills by taking on responsibilities such as advising and collaborating with first-year interns.

Application Information

Meet the 2026 Marine Teens Cohort

Interns wearing matching shirts and seated in two rows, one behind the other

The 2026 Marine Teens Cohort 


Back row, left to right: Mia Contreras, Jesus Xochipiltecatl, Adrian Alvarado, Nathan Prado 

 

Front row, left to right: Samara Evangelista, Celeste Cruz, Melanie Alejo, Haidie Mendiola, Arianna Calixto

 

Not pictured: Isa Leyva

Head and shoulders portrait of Mia Contreras, against a leafy green background

Mia Contreras (Peer Mentor) 


My name is Mia Contreras. I recently graduated from Eastside High school and this fall I will be attending University of California, Santa Cruz. During my time at UCSC, I will be studying marine biology. With my degree, I’m hoping to work with kids at an education program, preferably the camp at the Natural History Museum. As for my overall long term goals, I would love to be an advocate for animals and their nonhuman rights.

Head and shoulders portrait of Melanie Alejo, against a leafy green background

Melanie Alejo 


Hi, my name is Melanie and I am a rising senior at Roosevelt High School. I applied to this program with no knowledge of what I wanted to major in, but hearing from staff at the Natural History Museum has helped me view how I can connect everything to a career path. This internship inspired me to major in history and hopefully to come back as an educator. Marine Teens was a special part of my journey and it was a privilege to take part in. You truly never stop learning!

Head and shoulders portrait of Adrian Alvarado , against a leafy green background

Adrian Alvarado 


I am Adrian Alvarado, a recent graduate from MSTMA at Roosevelt High School. I will be attending California State University, Northridge in the fall to obtain my undergraduate degree in psychology. Even with this program being marine science focused, I was still able to get different perspectives on what a college degree of any major can do for you. It’s not about the tools you have, it’s about how you use those tools.

Head and shoulders portrait of Arianna Calixto, against a leafy green background

Arianna Calixto 


I am Arianna Calixto, a rising senior at MSTMA Roosevelt Highschool. Before this internship, I've always wanted to major in biochem as a pre-med major, but now I am considering majoring in Marine Biology. During my time at NHM, I have grown so much as a person and learned that there are so many different careers you can choose and to keep your options open. Hearing about different staff members' career paths has inspired me and showed me it's okay to be indecisive. Life is not linear, so enjoy yourself and take all the opportunities you can!

Head and shoulders portrait of Celeste Cruz, against a leafy green background

Celeste Cruz 


I am Celeste Cruz. I recently graduated from MSTMA at Roosevelt high school and will attend Cal Poly Pomona to pursue an education in construction management. While being in this internship I’ve learned so much about marine life and even considered changing my major. This internship connected me with NHM staff that taught me it’s okay if I change my major along the way. During the internship I also learned that even though I am majoring in construction management, I am still able to combine both majors and I hope to work at the museum one day!

Head and shoulders portrait of Samara Evangelista, against a leafy green background

Samara Evangelista 


Hello, my name is Samara Evangelista. I recently graduated from Roosevelt High school and I will be attending Pasadena City College in the fall to major in nursing. After completing that, I plan on transferring to the school that fits me best. Even though this internship was marine science based, it still inspired me to continue pursuing science in other aspects of my life. NHM is such a great museum and I'm glad I got the chance to try something new.

Head and shoulders portrait of Isa Leyva , against a leafy green background

Isa Leyva 


Good morning starshine, the earth says hello, I’m Isa!! I am an incoming freshman at UCLA (go Bruins!), majoring in Psychobiology on the pre-medical route, hoping to eventually become an OBGYN or Emergency Medicine doctor. This internship fulfilled all my nerdiest desires whilst educating me about wildlife, nature, conservation, and Los Angeles as we know it. Although I’m not actively pursuing marine biology, Marine Teens will always have a place in my heart. I’ve not only learned so much about research and the sciences with all the NHM department tours and field trips, but about myself and my passion for life.

Head and shoulders portrait of Haidie Mendiola, against a leafy green background

Haidie Mendiola 


My name is Haidie Mendiola. I'm a rising senior at Mendez high school and have plans on attending a college in California to pursue a degree in biology or veterinary science. This internship has helped me understand the many different fields a degree in biology can lead you to. It also exposed me to career paths I could take in the future and also gave me new experiences, helping me solidify what I want to major in.

Head and shoulders portrait of Nathan Prado, against a leafy green background

Nathan Prado 


I am Nathan Prado, a recent graduate from Roosevelt High School. This fall I will be attending University of California, Santa Barbara and majoring in Marine Biology. I’m hoping to go into science education, specifically at the Natural History Museum. This internship has been amazing and helped me envision my career path–hopefully you’ll see me here at the museum in a few years.

Head and shoulders portrait of Jesus Xochipiltecatl, against a leafy green background

Jesus Xochipiltecatl 


Hey! My name is Jesus Xochipiltecatl and I am a rising senior at MSTMA at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights and I plan to go to a four-year university in California on a pre-med track. With a focus in pediatrics, I aspire to connect my memorable experiences interpreting for children at NHM with my goal of working with young patients in a medical setting in the near future. Being a part of the Marine Teens cohort has shown me lately that being different should not push us away, but rather, encourage one another to collaborate, hustle, and thrive. Marine Teens 4 Ever.

1 of 1

The 2026 Marine Teens Cohort 


Back row, left to right: Mia Contreras, Jesus Xochipiltecatl, Adrian Alvarado, Nathan Prado 

 

Front row, left to right: Samara Evangelista, Celeste Cruz, Melanie Alejo, Haidie Mendiola, Arianna Calixto

 

Not pictured: Isa Leyva

Mia Contreras (Peer Mentor) 


My name is Mia Contreras. I recently graduated from Eastside High school and this fall I will be attending University of California, Santa Cruz. During my time at UCSC, I will be studying marine biology. With my degree, I’m hoping to work with kids at an education program, preferably the camp at the Natural History Museum. As for my overall long term goals, I would love to be an advocate for animals and their nonhuman rights.

Melanie Alejo 


Hi, my name is Melanie and I am a rising senior at Roosevelt High School. I applied to this program with no knowledge of what I wanted to major in, but hearing from staff at the Natural History Museum has helped me view how I can connect everything to a career path. This internship inspired me to major in history and hopefully to come back as an educator. Marine Teens was a special part of my journey and it was a privilege to take part in. You truly never stop learning!

Adrian Alvarado 


I am Adrian Alvarado, a recent graduate from MSTMA at Roosevelt High School. I will be attending California State University, Northridge in the fall to obtain my undergraduate degree in psychology. Even with this program being marine science focused, I was still able to get different perspectives on what a college degree of any major can do for you. It’s not about the tools you have, it’s about how you use those tools.

Arianna Calixto 


I am Arianna Calixto, a rising senior at MSTMA Roosevelt Highschool. Before this internship, I've always wanted to major in biochem as a pre-med major, but now I am considering majoring in Marine Biology. During my time at NHM, I have grown so much as a person and learned that there are so many different careers you can choose and to keep your options open. Hearing about different staff members' career paths has inspired me and showed me it's okay to be indecisive. Life is not linear, so enjoy yourself and take all the opportunities you can!

Celeste Cruz 


I am Celeste Cruz. I recently graduated from MSTMA at Roosevelt high school and will attend Cal Poly Pomona to pursue an education in construction management. While being in this internship I’ve learned so much about marine life and even considered changing my major. This internship connected me with NHM staff that taught me it’s okay if I change my major along the way. During the internship I also learned that even though I am majoring in construction management, I am still able to combine both majors and I hope to work at the museum one day!

Samara Evangelista 


Hello, my name is Samara Evangelista. I recently graduated from Roosevelt High school and I will be attending Pasadena City College in the fall to major in nursing. After completing that, I plan on transferring to the school that fits me best. Even though this internship was marine science based, it still inspired me to continue pursuing science in other aspects of my life. NHM is such a great museum and I'm glad I got the chance to try something new.

Isa Leyva 


Good morning starshine, the earth says hello, I’m Isa!! I am an incoming freshman at UCLA (go Bruins!), majoring in Psychobiology on the pre-medical route, hoping to eventually become an OBGYN or Emergency Medicine doctor. This internship fulfilled all my nerdiest desires whilst educating me about wildlife, nature, conservation, and Los Angeles as we know it. Although I’m not actively pursuing marine biology, Marine Teens will always have a place in my heart. I’ve not only learned so much about research and the sciences with all the NHM department tours and field trips, but about myself and my passion for life.

Haidie Mendiola 


My name is Haidie Mendiola. I'm a rising senior at Mendez high school and have plans on attending a college in California to pursue a degree in biology or veterinary science. This internship has helped me understand the many different fields a degree in biology can lead you to. It also exposed me to career paths I could take in the future and also gave me new experiences, helping me solidify what I want to major in.

Nathan Prado 


I am Nathan Prado, a recent graduate from Roosevelt High School. This fall I will be attending University of California, Santa Barbara and majoring in Marine Biology. I’m hoping to go into science education, specifically at the Natural History Museum. This internship has been amazing and helped me envision my career path–hopefully you’ll see me here at the museum in a few years.

Jesus Xochipiltecatl 


Hey! My name is Jesus Xochipiltecatl and I am a rising senior at MSTMA at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights and I plan to go to a four-year university in California on a pre-med track. With a focus in pediatrics, I aspire to connect my memorable experiences interpreting for children at NHM with my goal of working with young patients in a medical setting in the near future. Being a part of the Marine Teens cohort has shown me lately that being different should not push us away, but rather, encourage one another to collaborate, hustle, and thrive. Marine Teens 4 Ever.

Learn more about the Marine Teens program in the videos below:

Meet the Marine Teens Cohorts 

Job, Research and Internship Opportunities

For additional opportunities in marine biology, ecology, conservation, and informal education, check out this resource.*

*Please note that information regarding opportunities at other non-profit organizations is provided as a courtesy resource, not as an endorsement of any listed program.