Internships

Timeline for Ambassador Animal 2023-2024 Internships

Spring/Summer:
April 13, 2023-July 13, 2023
Application Deadline: February 17, 2023

Fall:
September 7, 2023- December 7, 2023
Application Deadline: July 7, 2023

Winter:
January 4, 2024-April 4, 2024
Application Deadline: November 3, 2023

Location
Franklin Park Zoo

Description
The Ambassador Animal Intern will work alongside our Ambassador Animal Specialists, who care for all of the species that we have and present in an educational manner. They will learn the basic husbandry of these animals including cleaning, feeding, enrichment, preparing diets, handling, and some training aspects. These interns will learn how to handle and present our level 1 ambassadors for guests within the zoo. They will also participate in presentations led by our ambassador animal specialists that will teach them the basics of ambassador animal care. Those presentations include hands on learning opportunities and projects that will help benefit our ambassador animals and provide hands on experience for our intern.

Requirements:
Preferred candidates should be enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate program or studies in zoology, education, biology, or a related field and/or experience in an education or zoo field. Must be available from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., actual hours flexible. Interns are required to submit written documentation from a physician or clinic of a negative TB test taken within the last 12 months. Interns should identify any special requirements for receiving academic credit at the start of the internship.

Term:
Would prefer at least twenty (20) hours, four (4) hours per day for three (3) consecutive months. Zoo New England is willing to work with an individual’s schedule.

The Ambassador Animal Internship is three days per week typically 9:00-4:00pm but hours can vary. We can be flexible with intern schedules or other jobs to accommodate days and time of the internship.

During this internship, interns must agree to abide by all Zoo New England regulations concerning safety and conduct. They also must comply with ZNE’s dress code.

To apply for this internship, please email your resume and cover letter to Amanda Kerstman at akerstman@zoonewengland.org

Application Deadline:
February 6, 2024

Start and End Dates:
There are two sessions that interns can be placed in:

• May 12, 2024 through August 3, 2024
• August 4, 2024 through October 26, 2024

Location:
Franklin Park Zoo or Stone Zoo

Description:
The Animal Care Intern will work alongside our Zoo Keeper staff as they care for the animals in our collection. They will learn basic husbandry including cleaning, feeding, behavioral observation, enrichment, and preparing diets. They will also develop the skills to interpret information related to our animal collection and their care with our guests. This internship will culminate with the intern designing, proposing, and completing a project to present upon their graduation.

Requirements:
Preferred candidates should have completed their sophomore year in an undergraduate program in zoology, education, biology, or a related field and/or experience in an education or zoo field. Must be available from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Interns are required to submit written documentation from a physician or clinic of a negative TB test taken within the last 12 months. Interns are required to submit proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 Interns who want to earn college credit should identify any special requirements for receiving academic credit before the start of the internship.

Term:
Interns are required to complete four hundred (400) hours over the course of 10-12 weeks. This commitment is for forty (40) hours a week.

During this internship, interns must agree to abide by all Zoo New England regulations concerning safety and conduct. They must also comply with ZNE’s dress code.

Apply:

To apply for this internship, please complete the application linked below and email the following items to Patrick Driscoll (fpzvolunteers@zoonewengland.org). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• A resume
• A school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
• Two written letters of reference from professors and/or former employers. These letters should address your aptitude, preparation, and suitability for an internship with the Zoo
• Students who are eligible for financial aid from colleges or universities are eligible to apply for the Animal Care Intern Scholarship, supported by the State Street Foundation. To apply for this scholarship fill out this additional application.

Location:
Concord and/or Lowell, MA

Blanding’s turtle interns work in freshwater swamps and are primarily involved in checking turtle traps, radiotracking turtles, and finding and protecting nests in residential neighborhoods.

Conservation Internships require a minimum commitment of 240 hours over the course of 12 weeks (e.g: Internship can be 6 weeks at 40hrs/week or 12 weeks at 20 hrs/week). The start and end dates can be somewhat flexible, but summer interns ideally are able to start by/before May 15th.

ZNE will provide necessary field equipment, including chest waders and boots, as needed.

Requirements

• 18 years or older
• Willing and able to work outdoors for long periods of time in all weather conditions
• Available to work nights (5pm-10pm) during the month of June
• Possess a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle to drive to and from field sites
• Referred candidates should be enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate program of studies in biology, zoology, or a related field.

There are three different internship opportunities, working with different species and in different locations. Applicants can select one or more options depending on their location and/or what species they are interested in working with.

Submit your application here. 

Location:
Dunstable, MA and Hudson, NH

Box turtle interns will help find new box turtle populations in northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire through visual surveys, walking transects, and radiotracking. Box turtle interns may also work with our turtle scent dog, and will help find and protect turtle nests.

Conservation Internships require a minimum commitment of 240 hours over the course of 12 weeks (e.g: Internship can be 6 weeks at 40hrs/week or 12 weeks at 20 hrs/week). The start and end dates can be somewhat flexible, but summer interns ideally are able to start by/before May 15th.

ZNE will provide necessary field equipment, including chest waders and boots, as needed.

Requirements

• 18 years or older
• Willing and able to work outdoors for long periods of time in all weather conditions
• Available to work nights (5pm-10pm) during the month of June
• Possess a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle to drive to and from field sites
• Referred candidates should be enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate program of studies in biology, zoology, or a related field.

There are three different internship opportunities, working with different species and in different locations. Applicants can select one or more options depending on their location and/or what species they are interested in working with.

Submit your application here. 

Location:
Franklin and Medway, MA

Wood turtle interns will work in riparian habitat, walking in and along streams to find wood turtles (both visually, and through radiotracking). Wood turtle interns will also help find and protect nests, and assist with habitat restoration efforts.

Conservation Internships require a minimum commitment of 240 hours over the course of 12 weeks (e.g: Internship can be 6 weeks at 40hrs/week or 12 weeks at 20 hrs/week). The start and end dates can be somewhat flexible, but summer interns ideally are able to start by/before May 15th.

ZNE will provide necessary field equipment, including chest waders and boots, as needed.

Requirements

• 18 years or older
• Willing and able to work outdoors for long periods of time in all weather conditions
• Available to work nights (5pm-10pm) during the month of June
• Possess a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle to drive to and from field sites
• Referred candidates should be enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate program of studies in biology, zoology, or a related field.

There are three different internship opportunities, working with different species and in different locations. Applicants can select one or more options depending on their location and/or what species they are interested in working with.

Submit your application here. 

Term:
May 23 2023 – September 2 2023

Application Deadline:
March 31, 2023

Location:
Stone Zoo

Description:
Each ZNE Education Intern engages in a learning experience based at one of the premier zoos in New England. Interns learn through a combination of daily practice, projects and reflective feedback to deepen knowledge of education theory and to hone a variety of skills from enunciation to planning effective presentation themes to succinct descriptions of conservation strategies. Interns take on gradually increasing responsibilities for presenting educational information for visitors and program participants.

Interns experience different styles of education from classes for groups, to planned interpretive presentations for visitors, to table-based activities, and more – all aimed at engaging audiences and stimulating empathy, understanding of connections from our lives to species around the world, and inspiration to protect wildlife and habitats. Each Intern will develop at least one new fact sheet and at least one educational product such as an interpretive program for public audiences, a class about a particular species or conservation story, or an exhibit graphic panel. Many interns complete more than one project. Education interns will have opportunities to handle and care for select ambassador animals and to use them in programs.

Requirements

• 18 years or older
• Able to address audiences of all ages
• Preferred candidates are usually enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate program or studies in zoology, education, biology, or a related field, or they have related life experience
• Must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• A strong desire to share ZNE’s messages, mission, and goals with our visitors
• Must agree to abide by all Zoo New England regulations concerning safety and conduct
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply
• Hours, Location, and Term of Appointment
• Hours: three days per week, typically 9:00am-4:00pm, but hours can vary. We can be flexible with intern schedules or other jobs to accommodate days and time of the internship.
• During this internship, interns must agree to abide by all Zoo New England regulations concerning safety and conduct. They also must comply with ZNE’s dress code.

To apply for this internship, please email your resume and cover letter to Katie Cashman at educationinterns@zoonewengland.org
Please include Stone Zoo in the subject line of your email.