North Carolina Zoo Fellowship Program 

The North Carolina Zoo is seeking motivated, organized, and responsible individuals to serve as Zoo Fellows within the Zoo’s Conservation, Education, and Science (CES) section. Fellows will gain hands-on experience in environmental education, conservation outreach, or land management while collaborating with CES staff, other Zoo departments, and community partners to deliver impactful programs that support the Zoo’s mission. 

These full-time, 11-month fellowship positions require a commitment of 1,700 service hours—working 5 days a week, 8 hours per day—including some weekends, early mornings, evenings, and occasional holidays. This fellowship starts September 2, 2025 and runs through July 2026. 

Ideal candidates are adaptable, reliable, and passionate about protecting wildlife and wild places, and inspiring others to care for the natural world. Fellows should feel comfortable working both independently and as part of a team, in a variety of settings and weather conditions. 

Each position is paid $18 per hour, with payments issued biweekly. Onsite housing is available at no cost upon request. Please note that these fellowships do not include additional benefits. 

About the Fellowship 

The Nature Rocks Outreach Education Fellow will join the Zoo’s education team and assist in  designing and delivering environmental education programs for our after-school partners. This  position reports directly to the School Programs Manager and is part of the Zoo’s Conservation,  Education, and Science (CES) team. 

In addition to hands-on program experience, the Fellow will have access to a variety of professional  development opportunities, which may include: 

• National Association for Interpretation Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) course • Playful Pedagogy workshops (certificate) 
• Kulture City Sensory Awareness Training 
• NNOCCI (National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation) course • Paid enrollment in the North Carolina Environmental Education (NCEE) certification program, if  interested 

Key Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with underserved communities to understand their priorities, concerns, and  interests related to climate education. 
• Use the modified Nature Rocks model to address what is learned from the communities.  Tailoring the program to meet the needs of a broader range of communities. 
• Assist in designing and delivering environmental education programs and outdoor experiences  for the afterschool communities we are working with. 
• Share reports and present out on how the programs are working with other Zoo staff (e.g.,  weekly reports, staff meetings and formal presentations). Present activities to professional  development workshops hosted by the Zoo. 
• Gain valuable experience in working with underserved communities and diverse audiences,  designing, and delivering environmental education programs, and evaluating audience needs  and programs. 
• Engage in education evaluations of programs, learn new methods of collecting, analyzing and  sharing data. 
• Assist with reaching virtual audiences with our conservation, climate, and STEM education  programs across the state through our digital platforms (e.g., Facebook Group, YouTube, and  Instagram) and live virtual programs. Our goal is to reach and engage underserved audiences  we are not currently connected with, using a variety of approaches. 

Qualifications & Skills 

• Strong communication, decision making, and organizational skills with ability to work effectively  in a team setting and independently 
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to take initiative, adapt to changing needs, and work  with minimal supervision 
• Ability to manage multiple projects and successfully complete tasks in a timely manner • Ability to work and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds • Advanced skills with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook • Valid driver’s license or ability to get one within 30 days 
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends, as needed
• Participants should be able to move around in a variety of different terrains, be able and willing  to move 25 lbs., and be able and willing to actively participate in outdoor environmental  education activities and programs in all weather conditions.  

Education requirements for both positions 

• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, education, or related field
• Alternatively, a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of relevant experience, such as working in environmental education, outdoor recreation, conservation fieldwork, youth programming, community outreach, or similar roles in non-formal education settings (e.g., zoos, aquariums, parks, museums, or nature centers)
• Please note: Applicants must be recent graduates who have received their degree within the past two years to be eligible for this position. 

Preferred Experience 

• Participation in data collection and analysis 
• Experience in public speaking or informal education 
• Experience working with children 
• Experience with a combination of digital still cameras, digital video cameras, iPhones, iPads,  microphones, and/or video editing software, and virtual programming techniques