Interactive Animal Programs Intern - Children's Trails

Job Title:

Interactive Animal Programs Intern
- Children's Adventure TrailsFLSA Status:
Non-exempt

Classification:
Seasonal

Hours:

Up to 24 hours per week for 12 weeks

Pay Rate: $15.26/hour

This is a seasonal position with a maximum duration of six months, based on individual performance and business operations. The exact end date will be determined by the official start date.

SCHEDULE:

Each internship session (spring, summer, and fall) is 12 weeks long. The spring internship session runs January 19, 2027 – April 12, 2027. All interns must be available during this time.

DESCRIPTION:

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an Interactive Animal Programs Intern for Children’s Adventure Trails. Under the direction of the Adventure Trails Staff, along with the Supervisor of IAP and the IAP Manager, interns assist keeper staff in all aspects of the day-to-day husbandry, training and enrichment requirements for the animals in the Children’s Adventure Trails collection. Interns may also participate in training and enrichment programs with the area animals as well as be expected to give public presentations.

This internship offers the opportunity for regular interaction with the Children’s Adventure Trails animal collection following appropriate training, and at the discretion of the keeper staff.

The Interactive Animal Programs Area
- Children’s Adventure Trails currently cares for a variety of exhibits including Goat Hills, the African Goat Kraal, and Budgie Encounter, as well as various off exhibit taxa including small mammals, reptiles, and parrots. The Focus of the IAP department is to promote awareness and stewardship of the animal kingdom through animal interactions with the general public. The program consists of collection animals each having specific outlined objectives or teaching points that support the mission of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium to Inspire, Educate, and Engage people to serve as life-long stewards for animals, their habitats, and their conservation.

This internship is designed to provide an opportunity to form a knowledge base and experience as it pertains to managing program animals under human care in an AZA accredited facility in the following areas:
General Knowledge, Daily Husbandry, Nutrition, Data Collection and Record Keeping, Environmental Enrichment, Operant Conditioning, Conservation Issues, and Guest Interactions.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of animal care staff in the Interactive Animal Programs Department.

Attend weekly professional development sessions.

Complete learning goals on internship checklist.

Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.

Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to:

Preparing and offering approved diets to the specimens in the Children’s Adventure Trails Collections.

Preparing, offering, and logging approved Enrichment in accordance to the animals' life strategy plan.

Assisting in developing and implementing Operant Conditioning techniques for the collection animals.

Assisting with and potentially individually providing animal demonstrations and encounters.

Assisting in other aspects of animal husbandry such as monitoring and recording weights and observing and recording behaviors.

Maintaining exhibit and enclosure standards for aesthetics and hygiene – raking, shoveling, cleaning glass, disinfecting equipment and other tasks.

Maintaining Behind-the-Scenes Areas and other holding areas, for aesthetics and hygiene standards according to USDA and AZA Regulations.

Assisting with exhibit maintenance, dismantling, and refurnishing.

Other duties may be assigned.

Must be at least 18 years old.

Must…