Staten Island Zoo Internship Program

Please submit applications via email.

Please note: All internships are unpaid and do not provide housing.
What goes into a Zoo Internship?

The Staten Island Zoo is extremely committed to our internship programs. Our goal is to provide great learning experiences for interns while continuing an exceptionally high level of care for our zoo animals. With a close staff to intern ratio, interns are a part of the zoo family. During their time at the Zoo, interns gain hands-on, practical work experience.

Research and College Credits
Individuals interested in specific topics may also be permitted to work on independent research. This project would be developed in conjunction with Zoo staff approval in order to meet the specific needs of the animal health department.

If students are eligible to receive college credits for their internship hours, the Zoo will actively support this process. Staten Island Zoo interns have received college credit at Delaware Valley College, Keane University, and Wagner College.

Requirements:

• Must be a college student or graduate.
• Must be available to work two days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Internships have a minimum requirement of 3 months and may last up to 1 year.

Start dates are at the beginning of January, June, and September.
*One day internships are possible in Animal Nutrition (Commissary) only.

How to Apply:

To apply for an internship please fill out the internship application form below. A completed application will contain the following:

• A completed Internship Application.
• A resume
• A cover letter stating their professional objectives.

Please note: only those students who include all materials will be considered for an interview.

If you have any questions please email the Zoo’s the Volunteer Coordinator at education@statenislandzoo.org

Deadlines:

APPLICATIONS DUE:
September 1st for January Spring Internship start date
March 1st for June Summer Internship start date
June 1st for September Fall Internship start date
To Apply, please review the internship opportunities below and then download an application from the button below:

Wildlife Education

The Education Internship offers individuals the opportunity to assist the Zoo’s Education Department with public programs and school programs for grades Pre-K – 12th grade. Interns gain experience in public speaking, animal handling, and weekend family programming and events. Interns will work collaboratively with staff to develop and evaluate curriculum, as well as assist with clerical duties and education research.

Education Interns do not need prior experience, but must be comfortable working with animals. The Zoo will provide on-the-job training.

Children’s Center

A Children’s Center intern works alongside zookeepers conducting daily husbandry for a variety of hoofstock, birds, exotics like kangaroos, and more. This includes feeding, cleaning, and routine exhibit maintenance. This internship takes place outdoors year-round. Interns should dress for all weather elements.

Interns who show responsibility and aptitude may also be asked to assist in behavior training for the animals in the Children’s Center.

Animal Care & Nutrition

The Animal Care & Nutrition Internship offers students the opportunity to assist keeper staff with all aspects of routine care of animals inside the zoo wings and program animal collection.

For one day of the internship, interns work in the Zoo’s Commissary preparing diets for a wide variety of animals. There, they learn about animal nutrition and the importance of their diets. On their second day, interns work alongside zookeepers conducting animal husbandry for a variety of exotic animals including reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates.

Animal Health & Nutrition

The Animal Health & Nutrition internship is designed for individuals seeking to gain exposure to the field of zoo medicine and animal nutrition.

Interns observe and participate in all facets of animal husbandry as it relates to the day-to-day operation of the zoo’s veterinary facility and nursery. No two days in the animal hospital are alike. However, in general, intern responsibilities include maintaining the cleanliness of all areas of the hospital, and ensuring the hospital is prepared to meet the health and welfare needs of all animal patients.

For the second day of the internship, interns work in the Zoo’s Commissary preparing diets for a wide variety of animals. There, they learn about animal nutrition and the importance of their diets. On their second day, interns work alongside zookeepers conducting animal husbandry for a variety of exotic animals including reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates.

In order to be eligible for this internship, students must be either Junior or Senior undergraduate or at the graduate level. They must also have prior animal care and hospital experience. Animal Health interns must have at least one day available to work between Monday – Thursday.

Nutrition

The Nutrition intern will be supervised by the Commissary Manager and the Veterinarian. The program is ideal for students interested in zoology, zoo animal nutrition, veterinary medicine, or zookeeping.

The commissary manager and the veterinarian are responsible for ensuring these diets are properly formulated and palatable to the animals. This requires research into each animal’s diet in the wild, investigating basic nutrient requirements for each animal, and an analysis of diet components offered at the zoo. The animal nutrition intern will support all levels of Commissary activity and research.

Contact Us:

Volunteer Coordinator
Email: Education@StatenIslandZoo.org
Web: StatenIslandZoo.org