Internships

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College Internship Program

Overview

The College Intern Program is designed to give college students or recent graduates, who are 18 years of age or older, the opportunity to have an in-depth, hands-on experience working in the zoo profession with animal husbandry. This internship program offers interns the opportunity to learn about Zoos, animal care, and the chance to obtain some entry-level experience. The main responsibility of interns is to assist the Birmingham Zoo keepers with daily routines and animal husbandry. The interns will work in their assigned areas for the duration of their internship. The internships will be for the college term, semester or quarter, and will also be available for the summer months.

Internship Length

College term, semester or quarter, and/or summer months. Starting and ending dates of the internship is to be determined by the Curator, Zoological Manager, educational facility if involved, and the intern for the assigned area.

Internship Hours
The days and hours the intern is to work will be determined by the Curator/Zoological Manager for the area that the college intern is assigned.

Non-Paid Internship
This is a non-paid position. The Birmingham Zoo, Inc. does not provide any hourly wage or stipend with this internship. The intern is responsible for providing their own room and board and other essentials.

College Credit
The Birmingham Zoo is unable to award any college credits. The institution that the student attends will decide the credit, if any, and any additional academic requirements that must be completed during the student’s internship. The Birmingham Zoo is willing to work with the different higher learning institutions in regards to completing scholastic requirements during the student’s internship.

Application
All applicants are required to fill out a job application and submit a current resume. For the intern program, references must include at least a current college professor in their field. All applications are required to be completed and turned in to the appropriate curator by July 15th for the fall term, Oct 15th for the winter term, and March 15th for the summer term. All interns are required to write an essay as to the reason they should be in the program, the benefits they will receive, and the benefits the zoo will receive having the intern in the program. Late applications will not be considered. All interviews will be conducted in within 30 days of the final due date of applications for the upcoming college term. Each intern will be notified as soon as the assignments have been made.

Application Due Dates
(internship applications will be accepted past the due date if an internship remains open)

Fall Term: July 15th
Winter/Spring Term: October 15th
Summer Term: March 15th

TB Testing
All interns are required to have a TB skin test done. The test must be negative and must have been done within the last 6 months prior to starting the internship program. The test will be conducted at the intern’s own expense.

Vaccinations
All interns must be current on their vaccinations; proof must be included with the application. Tetanus and TB must be current. All vaccinations are at the interns expense.

Drug Screen
All candidates must pass a required drug screen once he or she has been accepted. Any candidate who fails the drug screen will be dismissed from the program.

Internship Areas

Birds and Reptiles
Curator: Tim Snyder
Zoological Manager: Cindy Pinger

Mammals

Curator: Marcia Riedmiller
Primates and Predators
Zoological Manager Beth Severson

Elephants and Savannah
Zoological Manager Marie Krchak

Horticulture

Curator: Bruce Relihan
Grounds, Horticulture, Exhibits

Education

Curator: Carol Hendrickson
Education, Docents,Volunteers
Coordinator of Volunteers

Marketing and Development

Holly Booyse
Special Events, Membership, Marketing, Development

Children’s Zoo and Alabama Wilds

Curator: Jared Baker

Animal Nutrition Center

Lydia Cost

Visitor Services and Gift Shop

Manager: Marcy Falkner
Gift Shop, Front Gate, Visitor Services, Birthday Parties