The Hutton Program is a unique and exciting summer experience for your budding fisheries or marine biologist!

Student Application

• Applications for the 2024 Hutton Program will open November 14th, 2023 and close January 16th, 2024 

Eligibility

Students: Application to the program is open to all rising high school juniors, seniors, and rising college freshman regardless of race, creed, or gender. Students in the classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026 are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 16 years of age by the close of applications, January 16th, 2024. 

Note: Students who have participated in the Hutton Program before are no longer eligible to apply.

Mentors: Prospective Mentors must work in Fisheries profession and/or in marine biology. Mentors work in Federal, state and local agencies, private companies, academic and research institutions.

Program Requirements

Once students selected for the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, Hutton parents are expected to accomplish and ensure ALL requirements for a successfully completion of the program.

1. The student, parent(s) or guardian, and mentor are required to meet soon after notification to discuss duties, responsibilities, and the summer schedule.
2. In order to participate, students must return to the AFS Hutton Program an acceptance form signed by the student, parent(s) or guardian(s), and mentor.
3. Students must complete eight weeks and full-time hours of 32 to 40 hours per week for the Hutton Program.
4. Students must provide their own transportation to and from the work site. Travel and other expenses associated with fieldwork are covered by the mentor’s organization.
5. Complete and submit bi-weekly time sheets, signed by student and mentor.
6. Complete End of program evaluation and assessment

If at any time during the summer program the student does not abide by the agreement made between student, parents, and mentor, AFS reserves the right to remove the student from the program and withhold the remaining payment.

Mentor Match

Students selected for the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program are matched with a mentor within commuting distance (within a 30-45 minute commute) and will receive notification via [email protected] email address.

Selected students are matched with a mentor in their local area for an eight-week internship in a fisheries setting. Among the many activities that “Hutton Scholars” may assist with include:

• Stream sampling
• Seining
• Electrofishing
• Fish tagging and tracking
• Ecosystem restoration
• Public education
• Angler surveys
• Laboratory analyses of fish to determine age and growth

Program Stipulations

The Hutton scholarships are not considered wages for tax purposes; therefore, no W-4 form needs to be completed by the student when he or she begins the program, and no taxes are withheld. However, the scholarships are considered taxable income according to IRS regulations; students are advised to consult IRS regulations regarding scholarships.

AFS provides liability insurance for students and mentors who participate. Forms and instructions are provided to the mentor.

It may become necessary for students to spend time overnight at a distant site with their mentors. Parental permission must be obtained by the mentor in advance of the trip, preferably with blanket permission for the entire summer.