Animal Husbandry and Environmental Educator Intern for a mobile zoo needed! You will receive rare hands-on experience with small exotic animals in a zoo! This is a great resume builder for a zookeeping, veterinary, or education career.

Looking for a committed, reliable, independent, experienced person for a part time internship at a small private zoo facility near Yelm. We house exotic and domestic animals that are part of an educational traveling zoo. Our cherished Animal Ambassadors include hedgehogs, goats, snakes, hissing cockroaches, stick insects, lizards, mini pigs, and many others that you will get to pet, hold, or even cuddle! You do not have to touch the snakes or insects if you have fears of them.

In this position you will be performing a wide variety of duties. You can learn about all aspects of the animals’ husbandry, handling, housing, veterinary care, enrichment, and biology. You can learn how to create, implement, and teach science-based outreach programs to all ages. You can learn about managing a small business. You will develop skills for building enclosures and enrichment projects as well. You will travel with the Director in the company vehicle to various locations around Puget Sound for events, senior facilities, schools, libraries, camps, fairs, birthday parties, etc. Locations are less than 2 hours away. No overnights are needed.

You will choose and complete a creative project during the internship that contributes to the zoo. It could be creating enrichment, building an enclosure, creating curriculum, marketing, etc.

Animal husbandry and handling experience with animals besides dogs and cats is REQUIRED. Environmental education experience is preferred. Must be comfortable with and have experience with small children. Must have had a prior paid job.

You will work an average of 20 hours/week for 10 weeks in the summer. We will schedule an average of two 6 hour days and one 8 hour day each week. The hours can vary depending on the length of travel days and weather. There is a flexible start date in June, and a flexible end date in September.

You will be REQUIRED to work at least one weekend day every weekend (you may get one or two weekends off during the summer), as well as at least one traveling program day per week. The other 2 days per week are flexible. Usually our programs are on Saturdays or Sundays, and sometimes during the week.

During traveling program days you will work 6-12 hours. The day may start very early or end late. When we don’t have programs you can help with: animal care, enrichment, cleaning, social media posts, administrative tasks, enclosure construction, fence repair, painting, enclosure maintenance, gardening, weeding, groundskeeping, mucking stalls, etc.

The stipend of $1,600 is for the entire 10 week internship, to help offset your costs.

Ages 17 and up, must be responsible and able to work independently. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly, push/pull 300 pounds, bend, kneel, use hands and arms, speak, hear, see, walk on very uneven ground, step over a 2 foot barrier while maintaining balance, work in all weather outdoors all day, work in dusty and dirty conditions, handle animal waste and dander. Must have reliable transportation to Roy, WA. There is no public transportation. Housing is not available.

Opportunities for advancement if you have a mind for business. We are looking for a manager. You will be considered first when we hire for positions in the fall and next summer.