Recruitment is now underway for our local businesses to participate in the Collier County Public School Internship program for NAF Academy students.

Internships are work-based learning opportunities that allow students to gain industry specific experience based upon their chosen field of study while enthusiastically supporting company needs and goals. 

NAF Academies are small learning communities within current school structures focused on preparing students for college and career success. NAF students participate in career awareness, career exploration and career preparation activities which allows them to apply their knowledge in the workplace in order to benefit you and your organization. 

This year the Leadership Collier Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, will be placing students from the following career pathways: 

• Engineering 
• Information Technology 
• Finance 
• ​Hospitality & Tourism 
• Health Sciences 
• Aviation 

We're looking for a variety of internships for our students, including those in the medical fields, engineering, product design, visual arts, computer programming, marketing, audio/video production, working with animals, social services, and many other careers. You'll be helping our students AND helping your business by tapping into this excellent source of energetic young talent! 

An NAF Academy Internship must meet the following: 

1. Hands-on learning - Internships combine hands-on learning and skills development with real-world work experience under the guidance and supervision of supportive adults, who are not a student’s teacher. 
2. A fair exchange - An internship is a work/learn exchange between a student and your business. Students are meant to work and learn. (80% meaningful, industry specific work).
3. Student commitment – Students must work a minimum of 120 hours.
4. Investment – Interns will need to be paid at minimum, the minimum wage rate of $8.46/hour ($1,015.20 total).
5. Financial assistance to support your intern(s), through a CCPS/AT&T grant, is available to companies/organizations who qualify (*The program provides liability insurance for all interns through CCPS Accident insurance policy).
6. Students will be 16 years or older 

To see if your business is a good fit for this program, please contact Alex Breault at alex@napleschamber.org or by phone at (239) 403.2912. ​

At the Chamber we frequently get asked by our business community how interns are beneficial to their company? Not only do these opportunities engage, prepare and retain our local talent, interns instantly add value to the culture, perspective and productivity of any organization.

But don't just take it from us! Hear how beneficial an intern can be first-hand from Chamber Member, Lindsay Pursglove, Phd, MBA, Owner-Operator of Swimtastic Swim Schools of SW Florida.

1. Who was your intern and how was the overall experience? 
Ruth-Ann Baker, a student at Gulf Coast High School, joined Swimtastic this past summer and she was the best addition to our squad. Ruth was professional from day one in her interview; she has been coach-able and is always willing to help. As an intern she went through all the training and requirements of any Swimtastic employee and she excelled at every task given to her. She made a connection with our staff, swim families, and due to her dedication to her swim students she has accepted to stay on with us as a swim instructor. 

2. What do you suggest other companies understand when hiring an intern?
We worked together to understand Ruth’s goals and cater her experience. Together our team exposed her to opportunities that will help her now and into the future. So many young students do not necessarily realize how many career opportunities are out there. It was great to see Ruth learn about the aquatics industry in sport management, and to see her thrive as she is learning how to be a lifeguard and swim instructor.