Wildlife Education Internship

About Think Wild 

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center located in Bend, Oregon. Our mission at Think Wild is to inspire the high desert community to protect and care for native wildlife through education, conservation, and rescue/rehabilitation. 

The Position

Think Wild is seeking to recruit one Wildlife Education Intern for the summer of 2026. The intern will assist the Education and Volunteer Manager and Wildlife Educators with Think Wild programs about wildlife education and outreach. This includes assisting and leading educational programs with local school groups as well as during four weeks of summer camp, attending and tabling at local community events, creating relevant social media posts, and designing, planning, and implementing educational curriculum and managing related materials. 

Learning Outcomes:

Throughout the internship, the student will:

• Learn to communicate complex biological concepts to diverse audiences
• Teach youth and community members about wildlife coexistence
• Organize and facilitate education programs for local youth
• Create relevant lessons and curriculum about wildlife conservation
• Comletion of an internship project as coordinated with education staff personnel

This internship is from May 26th-September 4th, 2026 (start and end date flexible).

The internship requires completion of up to 280 total hours. Start/end dates as well as duration of internship are flexible, but the intern must be available during the following dates:

• June 22nd-26th, 2026
• July 6th-10th, 2026
• July 20th–24th, 2026

The intern will complete four intensive weeks consisting of five 8-hour shifts per week (40 hours/week). The remaining hours will be distributed flexibly across the rest of the internship, based on program needs and the intern’s preferences/schedule.

 Please note, that this is an unpaid position, but a $1,000 stipend is provided to cover living expenses. Interns also receive a Think Wild t-shirt and letter of recommendation upon request. 

Contacts that may be able to provide free or discounted housing options are available upon request. 

Qualifications

• High school graduate by June 2026
• 18 years of age or older
• Must work well with staff, volunteers, interns, the general public, and as a member of a team
• Must be flexible and willing to adapt to a fast-paced work environment
• Must present a signed Think Wild liability release waiver 
• Knowledge and/or passion for learning about Central Oregon wildlife and conservation
• Experience working with and overseeing medium to large groups of school-aged children preferred
• Interest in learning to design and organize age-appropriate wildlife-themed lesson plans
• Applicants with a valid drivers license and access to a vehicle during working hours are strongly preferred

EEO Policy

It is the policy of Think Wild to afford equal volunteer opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizen status, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law.