Ambassador Animal Internship – On site

Animal Programs Deparment

Join the National Aviary’s Animal Programs team as an Ambassador Animal Intern. Gain valuable experience in animal care, training, guest engagement, and enrichment.  Our department cares for a variety of species including parrots, birds of prey, and other mixed species who participate in conservation education programs including free-flight shows, classes, outreaches, and up-close encounters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Care for a variety of Animal Ambassadors
• Maintain habitats
• Prepare diets for various species
• Observe various bird behaviors
• Observe operant conditioning techniques
• Assist with free-flight bird shows
• Create animal enrichment
• Public speaking
• Observe diverse conservation educational experiences
• Participate in formal intern workshops

Education, Experience and Skills:

Animal Ambassador trainers and interns work in a very fast-paced environment. Due to the nature of the work, applicants must:

• Be able to lift 50 pounds
• Prepare diets that include mice and chick
• Work around allergens such as nuts, fish, and latex
• Work as a member of a team and independently
• Be a self-starter with a positive attitude
• Interact positively with the public

Additional Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Work a minimum of 3 days a week for fall and spring semesters and 5 days a week for the summer
• Must be willing to work weekends and holidays
• Must be willing to work 7:30 am – 4 pm

For students who are eligible for work study through their college: Speak with your financial aid or student advisor within your college or university to establish the National Aviary as an approved work study site.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation to Anna Mazur at anna.mazur@aviary.org

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted directly.

Animal Collections Internship – Onsite

Animal Collections Department

Interns work with our aviculturists to learn about husbandry, training, and education as the Animal Collections Department encompasses all of those areas.  We are looking for college students and recent graduates who are interested in the animal care and zoo fields.  This internship is very competitive, and an application does not guarantee an interview. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Daily husbandry including cleaning habitats, diet feed out, etc.
• Food Preparation including diet, cleaning dishes, etc.
• Daily Presentations including crowd control, assist aviculturists, lorikeet feedings

Education, Experience and Skills:

• Current college student or recent graduate – biology, zoology, psychology, or other animal care majors preferred
• Self-starter who can work as a team as well as independently
• Considering career in animal care field

Additional Requirements:  

• At least 18 years old
• Lift 50 lbs
• Comfortable working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions
• Comfortable interacting with the public
• Work at least two days/week (Fall and Winter sessions) or four days/week (Summer session)

To Apply:

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation to Bri Crane, brianna.crane@aviary.org

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted directly.

Education Programs Internship – Onsite

Education Department

The goal of this internship is to provide students valuable experience in the field of informal education. Our work incorporates practices from environmental, conservation, and informal science education. Interns considering a career in classroom-based, informal education, or public engagement in Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) organizations will gain valuable experience on engaging learners of all ages and backgrounds. The Education Programs intern will work under the direct supervision of the National Aviary’s Education Programs team, including the Curator of Education and the Program Specialist. This internship focuses on developing, facilitating, and evaluating a variety of conservation-based programs and experiences, including on-site programs for schools, families, and scouts, educational events, and community outreach.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Public speaking
• Conservation education
• Observing diverse educational experiences
• Participate in formal intern workshops
• Assist in development and preparation of educational programming
• Assist with delivery of on-site and outreach educational programs
• Assist in preparation and facilitation of educational events
• Plan and execute a conservation-based educational experience

Education, Experience and Skills:

Education programs staff and interns work in a very fast-paced environment. Due to the nature of the work, applicants must:

• Be enthusiastic about engaging with a wide variety of audiences in support of the National Aviary’s mission
• Interact positively with public audiences of all ages
• Work well in a team and independently
• Be a self-starter with a positive attitude

Additional Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Availability to work a minimum of three days a week is preferred
• Availability to work weekends is preferred

To Apply:

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation to Lindsey Meredith at Lindsey.Meredith@aviary.org. 

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted directly.

Horticulture Internship – Onsite

Buildings & Grounds Department 

Interns work with our horticulturist to learn about plant identification, plant care and propagation, landscape maintenance, and integration of horticulture with animal care and ecology.  We are looking for technical students, college students and recent graduates who are interested in horticultural and zoological horticulture fields.  This internship is very competitive, and an application does not guarantee an interview. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Daily maintenance – irrigation, weeding, pruning, etc.
• Special projects – planting, transplanting, assisting with hardscape installation, etc.
• Public interaction – answer general questions, short-answer one-on-one education to the public when appropriate, etc.

Education, Experience and Skills:

• Current technical school or college student or recent graduate – biology, ecology, horticulture or other natural science majors preferred
• Self-starter who can work independently as well as in groups
• Considering a career in horticultural field

Additional Requirements:  

• At least 18 years old
• Able to use stairs and 6’ ladders
• Lift 50 lbs
• Comfortable working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions
• Comfortable interacting with the public
• Work at least two days/week

To Apply:

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and letter of recommendation to Sara Showers, sara.showers@aviary.org.

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted directly.