Omaha Zoo Education Internship

An offering by Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

SCHEDULE: Each Internship session, Spring, Summer, and Fall, is 13 weeks long. All interns must be available during this time.

• Weekly Schedule: Must be available to work 28-32 hours per week; unpaid. Interns must be available to attend Tuesday OR Thursday afternoon professional development sessions starting the second week of their internship. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Schedules will be determined before internships begin by working with
the Volunteer Manager and area supervisors.

DESCRIPTION: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an Education Intern.
- Education Interns will learn basic educational philosophies and the necessary skills required for entry-level informal science education jobs.
- Education Interns will have the opportunity to observe and participate in educational programming at the Zoo and will be assigned to work directly in one or more of the following education areas at the Zoo: classes & day camps, interpretative services, volunteer services,
outreach, overnight experiences, citizen science, professional development, school programs, conservation, special events, evaluation, or preschool programs.
- Education Interns will learn skills needed to become Informal science educators through:
• Importance and impact of citizen science conservation programs
• Experiential learning pedagogy for all ages
• Development of experiential STEM lesson plans
• Interaction with visitors utilizing interpretation skills
• Planning and implementing interactive special events
• Participate in the operation of a large Volunteer and Intern Program
- Throughout the internship, interns will develop a project decided upon with the direction of their supervisor. Interns will implement their final project before the end of their internship.
- Interns will be asked to attend an education staff meeting to recap their internship experience the last week of the internship.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of
the Education 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:
o Informal educational presentations for Zoo guests.
o Assist in lesson plan research and development.
o Assist educators with facilitating and teaching programs.
o Assist educators in classroom management when required.
o Other duties may be assigned.

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.
• Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.
• Must possess strong communication skills; Communicate frequently and in a professional manner with supervisor and team members.
• Must work well with others and have the ability to work independently.
• Must be team-oriented and willing to work with other interns, volunteers, and staff members to further not only the goals of the Department but also of the Zoo’s Mission Statement.
• Must attend shifts on time and as scheduled.
• Must have the ability to follow detailed instructions.

EXPERIENCE: Experience is not necessary, but consideration will be given to an individual’s experience with teaching and/or working with children.

EDUCATION: Interns must be currently enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, a college or university. A minimum of one year of coursework in a major field of study to be applied during the internship (e.g. Education, biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.) is preferred. Must be motivated to continue expanding knowledge base as it applies to informal science education.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This position involves standing for long periods and lifting heavy objects (up to or more than 20 pounds).

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Interns may be required to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions. Routine exposure to hot and humid conditions.

PUBLIC CONTACT: Interns will interact with the public frequently throughout their internship and are expected to always exhibit professionalism and exceptional customer service. Interns may be asked to engage in public speaking opportunities, including but not limited to informal educational presentations for the public. Guest concerns, questions or complaints should be promptly addressed to the area supervisor.

TO APPLY:
• Visit https://www.omahazoo.com/volunteer to apply. Prospective interns can only submit ONE application per person specific to their top their choice but may indicate up to two other areas that interest them on their application.
• Must submit cover letter and resume to volunteers@omahazoo.com at the time you apply. Applications without these materials will not be considered.
o Your cover letter should include clearly defined career goals including how interning in the area you selected as your top choice will help you achieve your goals.
• Interns must provide their availability at the time of their interview. Interviews may be conducted over the phone, in person, or over Zoom.

Please note this is an unpaid position. Because interns are unpaid students here for an educational experience, we do not provide any medical coverage. We will do everything possible to accommodate school requirements for those seeking to earn class credit. We do our best to accommodate the schedules of interns with full or part-time job requirements.

Learning Outcomes

None listed
Audience
Student
Internship
Unpaid, Year-long
Format
In-person
Location
Omaha, NE
Start Date
13th September, 2022
End Date
9th December, 2022
Start Time
12:00 AM
End Time
12:00 AM
Fee
Free
Category
Science - Animal
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