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Animal Care Internship (Unpaid)
Responsibilities:
Education Animal Care Interns assist in the husbandry, care, enrichment, training, handling, and
maintenance of the education animal collection as part of the keeper team. During this 13 week
internship, education keepers mentor the interns in diet preparation, feeding, cleaning, following
standard operating procedures, exhibit maintenance and repair, providing enrichment, training, and
handling and interpreting the animals for guest encounters. Interns are given reading assignments and
worksheets to increase their understanding of zoos and many aspects of the zoo world. They are
expected to choose and complete an intern project with the help and guidance of all education staff.
Furthermore, education animal care interns work to ensure the health and safety of education animals,
volunteers, and guests. They will report problems and/or concerns to management, and answer general
guest questions while promoting education department programs and Brevard Zoo’s mission. The
schedule is subject to change at any time based on keeper/staff availability.
Week 1: Beginner animals, cleaning enclosures, making diets, learn about SOPs, read “Don’t Shoot the
Dog!,” start thinking about intern project
Week 2: Beginner animals, enrichment, read “Don’t Shoot the Dog!”
Week 3: Intermediate animals, turn in “Don't Shoot the Dog!” worksheet, get intern project approved
Week 4: Intermediate animals, observe training/commissary/zookeepers
Week 5: Advanced animals, training monitors learned behaviors
Week 6: Training birds learned behaviors
Week 7: “What is AZA?” worksheet
Week 8: Read “The Ethical Debate on Zoos” papers
Week 9: Turn in “Ethics” opinion paper
Week 10: Observe conservation/beach mice trailer
Week 11: Career Week
Week 12: Intern project due/Intern reviews
Week 13: Enjoy your last week!
Requirements:
Preferred candidates should be enrolled or recently completed undergraduate program studies in
zoology, education, biology, or a related field. They must be available at least 2 days a week (Mon &
Thurs or Tues & Fri) with Wednesdays optional, 8:30am to 4pm, for the entire 13 week session.
Two interns can participate at a time.
Internships may start at any time, but must fall during these windows:
Spring: January-April Summer: May-August Fall: September-December
The education department is always willing to work with an individual’s schedule to meet these
requirements.
Application Deadline:
January through April Session- Due November 15th.
May through August Session- Due March 15th.
September through December Session- Due July 15th.
How to Apply:
Send completed internship application to Brevard Zoo, Attn: Education Manager.
Brevard Zoo
8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940
321.254.9453