A Naturalist Intern’s primary responsibility is assisting the year-round education team in all interpretation, educational programming, and tours both at AWCC and off site. This position is designed for college students, recent graduates, or career changing individuals interested in working in this field regardless of relation to their degree path. In this position, interns will have the opportunity to gain experience and skills relative to position duties, and cross train on animal care duties and procedures.

Workdays and hours assigned by Director of Education and Naturalist Supervisor will vary by week; full 40 hours and 5 days per week, maximum 8 hours per day.  Positions are available beginning in May and ending in September - October.

Job Duties

• Interpretation and Education
  • Perform daily talks about AWCC and Alaskan wildlife to a diverse audience of guests
  • Conduct daily walking tours
  • Be a step on guide for motor coaches driving through AWCC
  • Provide opportunistic informal interpretation to guests
  • Give animal presentations to school groups and private groups
  • Provide interpretation and facilitate positive guest experiences at information stations
  • Facilitate animal encounters with porcupine, Sitka black-tailed deer, reindeer, moose, and bears
  • Frontline interpretation through roving, ensuring positive guest interactions and managing guest behaviors and needs
• Sanctuary Presentability and Safety
  • Planting, weeding, and harvesting in garden beds
  • Ensure trash does not find its way into animal habitats
  • Help inventory and pull invasive plant species on property
  • Facilitate service-learning groups
  • Clean interpretive signs and buildings
• Assist Animal Care Department
  • Cleaning animal habitats
  • Collect browse, prepare diets, and wash dishes
  • Husbandry and feeding duties as assigned
• Research
  • Opportunity to assist with the Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program as a Cook Inlet beluga whale observer
• Other duties as assigned