Zookeeper Internship: Hands-On Animal Care

We are NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUMMER 2026 INTERN APPLICATIONS

Final date to receive applications WAS :
March 1, 2026

Please check back in February of 2027 to apply for next year.

The Cape May County Zoo is accepting applications from motivated individuals who are looking to gain valuable experience in the zoo keeping field during the 2026 Summer Zookeeper Intern Program. Applicants accepted in the program will gain experience working with exotic zoo animals. The interns will work directly with various zookeepers and shadow them as they rotate through each area of the zoo.

Interns will learn (and participate in) basic husbandry, diets, exhibit design and repair, medical care, and more. The interns will also spend one day per week educating the public at an animal interpretation station in the zoo.

Qualifications:

The program is designed as an educational internship and preference will be given to applicants from Cape May County and to science majors enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.

Working in a zoo can be a physical job, please be sure that you are capable of these demands in all types of weather. The program is scheduled to run from June 1, 2026 – July 10, 2026. The hours will be 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. A monetary stipend will be awarded on August 11th at a mandatory meeting for students registered for the Fall 2026 semester.

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for this internship.

Interested applicants should email the Cape May County Employment application to: kendra.verity with "Zookeeper Intern" as the Subject, and in the 'Position Applied for' space.

The Cape May County Zoo is accepting applications from motivated individuals who are looking to gain experience with the training and enrichment of zoo animals. The intern will work directly with the Training and Enrichment Coordinators and Animal Keepers to learn the principles of animal training and enrichment through observation and hands‑on work with the animals. Applicants should be able to work independently and be comfortable speaking in front of zoo guests.

The applicant will be doing a variety of tasks assigned by the Training and Enrichment Coordinators, including data entry, constructing enrichment, training zoo animal(s), watching and recording Animal Keeper training sessions, and providing positive experiences for the zoo guests through interpretation.

Qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants in a bachelor’s degree program with a major in Biology, Zoology, Animal Behavior, Psychology, or a related field. The intern will work 9:00am-4:00pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This internship typically runs June 1st through mid-August. A monetary stipend will be awarded on August 11th at a mandatory meeting, only to students enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester.

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for this internship.

Interested applicants should email the Cape May County Employment application to: kendra.verity with "Enrichment and Training Intern" as the Subject Line, and in the 'Position applied for' space.

The Cape May County Zoo is accepting applications from motivated individuals who are looking to gain experience in the education department within the zoo. The intern will work directly with the Education Department and Animal Keepers to learn about our animals, public speaking, interpretation, and conservation messaging. Applicants should be able to work independently and be very comfortable engaging and speaking with zoo guests of all ages in both large and small group settings.

Qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants in a bachelor’s degree program with a major in Education, Environmental Science, Biology, Zoology, Animal Behavior, Psychology, or a related field. This internship typically runs from early June through mid-August. A monetary stipend will be awarded at a mandatory meeting on August 11th, only to students enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for this internship.

Interested applicants should email the Cape May County Employment application to: kendra.verity with "Education Intern" in the Subject, and 'Position applied for' space.