Available Internships

The Potawatomi Zoo is now accepting intern applications for all of 2022!  There are three seasonal opportunities with each session lasting around 16 weeks. The internship program is designed to offer hands-on experience to those interested in entering the zookeeper profession. Interns will be expected to shadow zookeepers in their daily routines. By doing so interns will gain knowledge and experience of a variety of animal taxon through basic husbandry, enrichment, training, diets, exhibit design and maintenance, medical care, animal knowledge, and more.

2022 Internship dates:

Spring Session: January 3-April 22

Summer Session: May 2-August 9; Deadline to apply is April 15th

Fall Session: August 29-December 16; Deadline to apply is July 31st

Start and end dates are flexible.

EACH SESSION IS LIMITED TO 6 INTERNS; SPACES ARE OPEN UNTIL FILLED, SO DON’T DELAY!

Requirements:

  • Must be 18 or older to apply
  • Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 6 months) and current COVID-19 vaccination is required prior to start date for all interns. Records of these must be submitted before working with these animals.
  • Available to intern weekends and holidays
  • Available to intern 40 hours a week for a 16-week period; schedule is 8 hr days, 5 days per week (8:00 am – 4:30 pm). Schedule is subject to change during the open season (7:00 am – 3:30 pm or 9:00 am – 5:30 pm).
    • 2020 Open Season runs April, 2020 – November, 2020
  • Follow all Potawatomi Zoo Protocols.
  • Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Interns must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and be able to safely lift 50 lbs.
  • Tolerance of strong odors, dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions.
  • College student or recent graduate in biology, zoology, or related field is preferred.

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to science majors enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program.

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070

Conservation Education Internship

Essential Internship Functions:

  • Assist with ZooCamp or other classes. Duties include leading/interpreting camp curriculum, getting supplies ready, helping students with crafts/activities, supervising students, cleaning up, and any other assistance the education staff member may require. Interns will start by observing and assisting during ZooCamps but will then begin leading activities while assisted by Education Staff.
  • Customer service. Will be working with the public and need to be familiar with the zoo, its layout, and how to talk to zoo guests. Provide a safe and fun learning environment for students in ZooCamp. Serve as an ambassador for the zoo and work to improve the visitors’ zoo experience.
  • Daily handling and presentation of education animal collection, including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
  • Plan either a class curriculum or an interpretive activity that could be used at the zoo. Will be provided guidelines and tips for creating a successful curriculum/activity. Project to be finished prior to the completion of the internship term.

Environmental/Work Conditions:

The work requires considerable walking, prolonged standing, and lifting of items 50 pounds and less. Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.

REQUIRED:

Criminal Background Check

Negative TB test

Current COVID-19 vaccination

Preferred Start date: variable

End date: variable

15 hours/ week

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

(574)234-9070

(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to marketing/graphic design related majors enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.

Preferred qualifications include:
Familiarity with photography and shooting with a DSLR camera.
Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly photo and video editing. Understanding of graphic design is a plus.
Knowledge of social media.

Please send samples of work when applying. This can include links to videos, social media posts, or pdfs of work (personal or academic).

Samples of work may be emailed to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070


(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included.

Preference will be given to applicants with special events experience enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070

Available Internships

The Potawatomi Zoo is now accepting intern applications for all of 2020!  There are three seasonal opportunities with each session lasting around 16 weeks. The internship program is designed to offer hands-on experience to those interested in entering the zookeeper profession. Interns will be expected to shadow zookeepers in their daily routines. By doing so interns will gain knowledge and experience of a variety of animal taxon through basic husbandry, enrichment, training, diets, exhibit design and maintenance, medical care, animal knowledge, and more.

2022 Internship dates:

Spring Session: January 3-April 22

Summer Session: May 2-August 9; Deadline to apply is April 15th

Fall Session: August 29-December 16; Deadline to apply is July 31st

EACH SESSION IS LIMITED TO 6 INTERNS; SPACES ARE OPEN UNTIL FILLED, SO DON’T DELAY!

Requirements:

  • Must be 18 or older to apply
  • Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 6 months) and current COVID-19 vaccine is required prior to start date for all interns. Records of these must be submitted before working with these animals.
  • Available to intern weekends and holidays
  • Available to intern 40 hours a week for a 16-week period; schedule is 8 hr days, 5 days per week (8:00 am – 4:30 pm). Schedule is subject to change during the open season (7:00 am – 3:30 pm or 9:00 am – 5:30 pm).
    • 2020 Open Season runs April, 2020 – November, 2020
  • Follow all Potawatomi Zoo Protocols.
  • Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Interns must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and be able to safely lift 50 lbs.
  • Tolerance of strong odors, dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions.
  • College student or recent graduate in biology, zoology, or related field is preferred.

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to science majors enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program.

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070

Conservation Education Internship

Essential Internship Functions:

  • Assist with ZooCamp or other classes. Duties include leading/interpreting camp curriculum, getting supplies ready, helping students with crafts/activities, supervising students, cleaning up, and any other assistance the education staff member may require. Interns will start by observing and assisting during ZooCamps but will then begin leading activities while assisted by Education Staff.
  • Customer service. Will be working with the public and need to be familiar with the zoo, its layout, and how to talk to zoo guests. Provide a safe and fun learning environment for students in ZooCamp. Serve as an ambassador for the zoo and work to improve the visitors’ zoo experience.
  • Daily handling and presentation of education animal collection, including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
  • Plan either a class curriculum or an interpretive activity that could be used at the zoo. Will be provided guidelines and tips for creating a successful curriculum/activity. Project to be finished prior to the completion of the internship term.

Environmental/Work Conditions:

The work requires considerable walking, prolonged standing, and lifting of items 50 pounds and less. Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.

REQUIRED:

Criminal Background Check

Negative TB test

Current COVID-19 vaccination status

Preferred Start date: variable

End date: variable

15 hours/ week

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

(574)234-9070

(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to marketing/graphic design related majors enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.

Preferred qualifications include:
Familiarity with photography and shooting with a DSLR camera.
Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly photo and video editing. Understanding of graphic design is a plus.
Knowledge of social media.

Please send samples of work when applying. This can include links to videos, social media posts, or pdfs of work (personal or academic).

Samples of work may be emailed to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070


(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)

The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included.

Preference will be given to applicants with special events experience enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.

Questions:

volunteer@potawatomizoo.org

574.235.9070