Job Details
The Memphis Zoo Interpretive Programs Internship provides college students with pre-professional career experience through hands-on experiential learning opportunities. This program will introduce interns to animal husbandry through daily care, training, and enrichment; delivery of guest engagement programming; live animal shows; and encounters in order to connect people with wildlife. The Interpretive Programs department encompasses all ambassador animal species held in the Zoo's Education Department and includes invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
This internship is unpaid but may provide housing. The program spans 10-12 weeks and participants will be scheduled up to 40hrs per week. Spring internships begin in January and end in May (deadline for application is due Nov 15). Summer internships will begin in May and end in August (deadline for application March 1). Fall internships begin in August and end in December (deadline for application due July 1).
Deadlines for internship application materials:
Spring (January-May): November 15
Summer (May-August): March 1
Fall (August-December): July 1
Intern duties will vary upon season and departmental needs, but could include:
- Assisting staff in all aspects of animal care including, but not limited to, diet preparation, exhibit cleaning/disinfection, maintenance, training and enrichment, record keeping, and public demonstrations
- Actively observing animal's behavior
- Delivering live interpretation (both formal and informal) to guests throughout the Zoo
- Assisting with the production of special events, animal celebrations, and awareness days
- Maintaining animal areas, work areas, and all resources in a clean, organized manner
- Evaluating current programming and/or regional trends in informal education
- Conducting surveys or research with regard to education programming and materials
- Each internship will culminate with a special project or other contribution to fit the needs of the department.
Qualifications:
- Must be a dependable, hard-working college student or recent graduate with an interest in the fields of education, interpretation, environmental science, biology, zoology, or zoo management.
- Must be able to work between 24-40 hours per week for 12 weeks.
- Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Must demonstrate enthusiasm and good judgement while working with children and zoo guests.
- Must demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to follow directions.
Beneficial Skills:
- Proficiency in Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
- Comfort with tractable animals across taxa
- Comfort with public speaking