Apprentice Penguin Keeper Internship

During this internship, you are expected to work alongside staff members to maintain and care for the Humboldt penguin colony housed at the facility. The Apprentice Penguin Keeper Internship is designed so you will be able to complete the day-to-day tasks of a Penguin Keeper at our facility by the end of your internship. Interns are expected to work both independently and as part of a team. Interns will also be expected to select a project to complete during their time here. Working with our animals is considered a privilege, which comes with intensive training and a considerable amount of dedicated time. While most of our interns successfully complete training needed to work with our animals, we cannot guarantee animal contact or interaction.

In addition to completing the online application, applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation. Interns must also attend an orientation session before the start of the internship.

Duties may include, but are not limited to assisting with the following:

Feeding: Food preparations, weighing and cleaning of thawed fish, cleaning the animal commissary.
Husbandry and Maintenance: Cleaning exhibit, nest boxes, and quarantine areas. Distributing enrichment and completing animal observations.
Record Keeping: Recording food and vitamin intake, maintaining health records and training progress sheets.
Veterinary: Assisting in the weighing and measuring of the animals.
Training Techniques: Understanding operant conditioning by observing training demonstrations.
Understanding of AZA animal protocols and standards.
Assisting with public encounters and giving public presentations.

Experience Required

• Minimum of a college junior in a marine biology, psychology, zoology, biology or another related field.

• Recent graduates may also apply.

• Must be able to afford housing and transportation.

• Must be able to lift at least 50lbs; work on uneven and slippery surfaces; be able to sit/stand for long periods of time when necessary.

• Must be available to work 40 hours per week, including holidays.

• Available schedules are (Sunday through Thursday and Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30am-4pm).

• Must be able to complete a 12-14 week term.

Further Comments

Summer 2020 only

Salary

Unpaid