Education Internship

Unpaid Internship
Part-Time (Approximately 20 hours per week)
3-Month or 6-Month Internship

About Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance is a 501c3 nonprofit wildlife hospital and rehabilitation center that cares for injured, orphaned, and diseased wildlife with the goal to release healthy animals back into their native habitat. Our area of interest and expertise is birds of prey, but we care for wildlife as small as hummingbirds to as large as bobcats.Our mission is to elevate the care and protection of wildlife by fostering a sense of community and collaboration through rehabilitation, education, and conservation. Our Education Internship provides hands-on experience for students and aspiring wildlife professionals interested in wildlife education, public outreach, conservation, and ambassador animal care.

Position Summary

The Education Intern will work alongside the Education Director and Education Coordinator to support wildlife education programming, ambassador animal care, community outreach, and conservation initiatives. This internship is designed to provide practical, career-building experience in environmental education, public speaking, wildlife handling, husbandry, and natural history.

Interns will gain exposure to every aspect of RMWA's education department while developing the skills needed for careers in wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, conservation, zoological institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

This internship is intended as a learning experience. While interns will assist with daily operations, mentorship and education remain the primary focus of the program.

Primary ResponsibilitiesEducation & Outreach

• Assist with educational programs and outreach events
• Present educational information to audiences of all ages
• Assist with school programs, community events, and tours
• Help develop conservation-based lesson plans and educational materials
• Promote positive human-wildlife coexistence

Ambassador Animal Care

• Prepare species-specific diets
• Feed ambassador animals
• Clean and maintain enclosures, mews, and travel habitats
• Provide habitat enrichment
• Observe and report changes in animal behavior
• Assist with training and conditioning of ambassador animals under staff supervision

Facility Support

• Clean workspaces and public education areas
• Wash dishes and laundry
• Sweep, mop, and sanitize facilities
• Scrub kennels and mews
• Maintain cleanliness throughout the education center
• Assist with inventory and organization

Animal Care Support

• Care for feeder rodents and feeder invertebrates
• Assist with record keeping
• Maintain daily observation logs
• Support annual reports and animal records

Learning Objectives

By the end of the internship, participants should demonstrate competency in:

• Wildlife education ethics and professional standards
• Federal, state, and local wildlife regulations
• Colorado native wildlife identification
• Colorado natural history and conservation
• Human-wildlife conflict resolution strategies
• Safe ambassador animal handling
• Public speaking and interpretation
• Conservation-focused lesson planning
• Animal health and behavior assessment
• Nutrition and diet preparation
• Husbandry and enrichment techniques
• Disease prevention and biosecurity
• Professional record keeping

Projects

Depending on organizational needs and intern interests, interns may have the opportunity to complete independent projects such as:

• Designing ambassador travel enclosures
• Ambassador animal training projects
• Researching captive wildlife nutrition
• Developing educational curriculum
• Behavioral observations
• Enrichment development
• Conservation research
• Species-specific husbandry improvements

Qualifications

Preferred:

• Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate, in Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Zoology, Ecology, Education, Natural Resources, Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, or a related field.
• Passion for wildlife conservation and environmental education.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable interacting with the public.
• Raptor handling experience.
• Ability to receive and apply constructive feedback.

No prior wildlife handling experience is required. Training will be provided.

Physical Requirements

Working with wildlife is physically demanding. Interns must be able to:

• Lift up to 50 pounds
• Stand and walk for extended periods
• Bend, kneel, and work in confined spaces
• Perform repetitive cleaning tasks
• Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Tolerate exposure to animal waste, feathers, insects, odors, and cleaning chemicals
• Follow all safety and biosecurity protocols

Internship Expectations

Interns are expected to:

• Arrive on time and communicate promptly regarding absences
• Maintain a positive, professional attitude
• Be self-motivated and seek learning opportunities
• Complete assigned tasks thoroughly
• Work respectfully with multiple supervisors, volunteers, and staff
• Follow all animal welfare and safety protocols
• Represent Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance professionally at all times

While some tasks may be physically demanding or less glamorous, every responsibility contributes to animal welfare, organizational success, and the intern's professional development.

Time Commitment

Schedule:

• Approximately 20 hours per week
• Monday and Saturday are required (8-hour shifts)
• One additional 4-hour shift scheduled based on program needs

Internship Length:

• 3 months 
• 6 months

Compensation

This is an unpaid educational internship intended to provide meaningful, hands-on professional experience in wildlife education and conservation. Academic credit may be available through participating colleges or universities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds who share our commitment to wildlife conservation, education, and community engagement.