Internships

In the Volunteer section:

• Adult Volunteer Program
• Community Volunteer Program
• Internships
• Special Event Volunteer
• Teen Volunteer Program
• Work Study Volunteer Program

College Internship Program

Overview

The College Intern Program is designed to give college students and 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. Internships are available in a variety of areas that include animal husbandry, education, marketing, volunteer management and retail sales.

Internship Areas

Internships may be available in the following department/areas. Spaces are limited.

(*) – If your application is accepted, the minimum hours required will be determined after the acceptance of your application.

Application Due Dates

• Applications for internships that are available year-round will be accepted year-round.
• Applications for internships that are only available during the months of March-August and May-August must be submitted between January 1 and April 30.
• Applications for internships that are only available during the months of September-April must be submitted between May 1 and August 31.

Responsibilities

The Birmingham Zoo’s internship program offers interns the opportunity to learn within a variety of disciplines, and the chance to obtain a unique and meaningful career experience. The main responsibility of an intern in an animal area is to assist the Birmingham Zoo keepers with their daily routines and animal husbandry tasks. Education interns will assist education staff members with preparation for, and the implementation of the camps and classes that occur year-round. Volunteer management interns will help supervise adult and teen volunteer activities/trainings. Horticulture interns will assist with planting and caring for the plants within the Children’s Zoo. Retail interns may assist with the preparation for special events, gift shop, front gate, and a variety of other tasks. Marketing interns may help out with the marketing of special events, and Zoo activities/functions to the Zoo’s members and general public. Interns will work in their assigned areas for the duration of their internship.

Internship Length

Starting and ending dates and your weekly schedule are to be determined by the Curator, Zoological Manager, educational institution (if involved), and the intern for the assigned area. Individual (daily) shifts must be at least 8 hours in length, not including lunchtime. For example, a 24 hour week would consist of 3 days and each day would be 8 hours in length (not including a break to eat).

Non-Paid Internship

This is a non-paid position. The Birmingham Zoo, Inc. does not provide an 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.

TB Testing (Volunteer Management and Marketing Internships Excluded)

You may apply for an internship and attend your orientation without having completed a TB test. However, all interns are required to have a negative TB skin test done before beginning their internship. 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 Tetanus vaccination; proof must be provided once the applicant is accepted into the intern program. All vaccinations are at the intern’s expense.

Drug Screen and Background Check

All candidates must pass a required drug screen and background check once he or she has been accepted. Any candidate who fails the drug screen or background check will be dismissed from the program. The cost of the drug screen and background check will be paid by the Birmingham Zoo.

Uniform

All interns must wear a Birmingham Zoo shirt or sweatshirt, khaki pants/shorts/capris, and close-toed shoes. If the intern does not own a Birmingham Zoo shirt/sweatshirt, the intern may purchase a shirt/sweatshirt at a 20% discount at the Gift Shop.

Application and Acceptance Process

After your application is accepted, and you complete an interview and an orientation…

…You will officially be considered a Birmingham Zoo Intern!