Available Internships
The Potawatomi Zoo has internship opportunities for Animal Care! There are three seasonal opportunities for zookeeping internships with each session lasting around 16 weeks. The internship program is designed to offer hands-on experience to those interested in entering the zookeeper profession. Interns will be expected to shadow zookeepers in their daily routines. By doing so interns will gain knowledge and experience of a variety of animal taxon through basic husbandry, enrichment, training, diets, exhibit design and maintenance, medical care, animal knowledge, and more.
Approximate Internship dates:
Spring Session: January-April
Summer Session: May-August; Deadline to apply is April 15th
Fall Session: September-mid-December; Deadline to apply is July 31st
Start and end dates are flexible.
EACH SESSION IS LIMITED TO 4 INTERNS; SPACES ARE OPEN UNTIL FILLED, SO DON’T DELAY!
Requirements:
- Must be 18 or older to apply
- Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 6 months) is required prior to start date for all interns. Records of these must be submitted before working with these animals.
- Available to intern weekends and holidays
- Available to intern 40 hours a week for a 16-week period; schedule is 8 hr days, 5 days per week (8:00 am – 4:30 pm). Schedule is subject to change during the open season (7:00 am – 3:30 pm or 9:00 am – 5:30 pm).
- Follow all Potawatomi Zoo protocols.
- Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Interns must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and be able to safely lift 50 lbs.
- Tolerance of strong odors, dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions.
- College student or recent graduate in biology, zoology, or related field is preferred.
The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to science majors enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program.
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574.235.9070
The Potawatomi Zoo offers a preceptorship program for clinical year veterinary students with a serious interest in zoological medicine. Students will shadow veterinary staff and receive exposure to the daily tasks of a clinical zoo veterinarian, including clinical cases and zoological management. Students will be required to complete a short research project with a presentation to zoo staff at the end of their externship. This position is unpaid, and students are responsible for their housing arrangements.
Program Goals:
- Provide students with a broad exposure to zoological medicine and the unique species it encompasses
- Show students how domestic animal medicine can be applied to zoo species, as well as its limitations
- Provide experience with immobilizations, examination, sample collection, diagnostic tests, and necropsy protocols used in zoo animals.
- Provide exposure to zoo animal husbandry and management
- Demonstrate the application of a preventative medicine approach to managing a zoological collection
- Provide an overview of what a veterinary career in zoological medicine entails and the general steps required to achieve a career in the field
Requirements:
- Applicants must be a veterinary student in their clinical rotations at an AVMA-accredited veterinary school at the time of their preceptorship.
- The length of a preceptorship is 2-8 weeks.
- Proof of a negative TB test within the past 6 months must be provided prior to starting the preceptorship. A tetanus booster within the past 10 years is strongly recommended.
- Students will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Application Materials:
- Please complete the internship application.
- Send an email to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org and include:
- A cover letter detailing your interest in zoological medicine and previous experience;
- Two letters of recommendation; and
- A list of dates you’re available.
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-235-9070
Conservation Education Internship
Essential Internship Functions:
- Assist with ZooCamp or other classes. Duties include leading/interpreting camp curriculum, getting supplies ready, helping students with crafts/activities, supervising students, cleaning up, and any other assistance the education staff member may require. Interns will start by observing and assisting during ZooCamps but will then begin leading activities while assisted by Education Staff.
- Customer service. Will be working with the public and need to be familiar with the zoo, its layout, and how to talk to zoo guests. Provide a safe and fun learning environment for students in ZooCamp. Serve as an ambassador for the zoo and work to improve the visitors’ zoo experience.
- Daily handling and presentation of education animal collection, including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
- Plan either a class curriculum or an interpretive activity that could be used at the zoo. Will be provided guidelines and tips for creating a successful curriculum/activity. Project to be finished prior to the completion of the internship term.
Environmental/Work Conditions:
The work requires considerable walking, prolonged standing, and lifting of items 50 pounds and less. Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
REQUIRED:
Criminal Background Check
Negative TB test
Preferred Start date: variable
End date: variable
15 hours/ week
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-234-9070
(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)
The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to marketing/graphic design related majors enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.
Preferred qualifications include:
Familiarity with photography and shooting with a DSLR camera.
Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly photo and video editing. Understanding of graphic design is a plus.
Knowledge of social media.
Please send samples of work when applying. This can include links to videos, social media posts, or pdfs of work (personal or academic).
Samples of work may be emailed to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-235-9070

(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Available Internships

The Potawatomi Zoo has internship opportunities for Animal Care! There are three seasonal opportunities for zookeeping internships with each session lasting around 16 weeks. The internship program is designed to offer hands-on experience to those interested in entering the zookeeper profession. Interns will be expected to shadow zookeepers in their daily routines. By doing so interns will gain knowledge and experience of a variety of animal taxon through basic husbandry, enrichment, training, diets, exhibit design and maintenance, medical care, animal knowledge, and more.
Approximate Internship dates:
Spring Session: January-April
Summer Session: May-August; Deadline to apply is April 15th
Fall Session: September-mid-December; Deadline to apply is July 31st
Start and end dates are flexible.
EACH SESSION IS LIMITED TO 4 INTERNS; SPACES ARE OPEN UNTIL FILLED, SO DON’T DELAY!
Requirements:
- Must be 18 or older to apply
- Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 6 months) is required prior to start date for all interns. Records of these must be submitted before working with these animals.
- Available to intern weekends and holidays
- Available to intern 40 hours a week for a 16-week period; schedule is 8 hr days, 5 days per week (8:00 am – 4:30 pm). Schedule is subject to change during the open season (7:00 am – 3:30 pm or 9:00 am – 5:30 pm).
- Follow all Potawatomi Zoo protocols.
- Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Interns must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and be able to safely lift 50 lbs.
- Tolerance of strong odors, dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions.
- College student or recent graduate in biology, zoology, or related field is preferred.
The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to science majors enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program.
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574.235.9070
The Potawatomi Zoo offers a preceptorship program for clinical year veterinary students with a serious interest in zoological medicine. Students will shadow veterinary staff and receive exposure to the daily tasks of a clinical zoo veterinarian, including clinical cases and zoological management. Students will be required to complete a short research project with a presentation to zoo staff at the end of their externship. This position is unpaid, and students are responsible for their housing arrangements.
Program Goals:
- Provide students with a broad exposure to zoological medicine and the unique species it encompasses
- Show students how domestic animal medicine can be applied to zoo species, as well as its limitations
- Provide experience with immobilizations, examination, sample collection, diagnostic tests, and necropsy protocols used in zoo animals.
- Provide exposure to zoo animal husbandry and management
- Demonstrate the application of a preventative medicine approach to managing a zoological collection
- Provide an overview of what a veterinary career in zoological medicine entails and the general steps required to achieve a career in the field
Requirements:
- Applicants must be a veterinary student in their clinical rotations at an AVMA-accredited veterinary school at the time of their preceptorship.
- The length of a preceptorship is 2-8 weeks.
- Proof of a negative TB test within the past 6 months must be provided prior to starting the preceptorship. A tetanus booster within the past 10 years is strongly recommended.
- Students will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Application Materials:
- Please complete the internship application.
- Send an email to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org and include:
- A cover letter detailing your interest in zoological medicine and previous experience;
- Two letters of recommendation; and
- A list of dates you’re available.
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-235-9070
Conservation Education Internship
Essential Internship Functions:
- Assist with ZooCamp or other classes. Duties include leading/interpreting camp curriculum, getting supplies ready, helping students with crafts/activities, supervising students, cleaning up, and any other assistance the education staff member may require. Interns will start by observing and assisting during ZooCamps but will then begin leading activities while assisted by Education Staff.
- Customer service. Will be working with the public and need to be familiar with the zoo, its layout, and how to talk to zoo guests. Provide a safe and fun learning environment for students in ZooCamp. Serve as an ambassador for the zoo and work to improve the visitors’ zoo experience.
- Daily handling and presentation of education animal collection, including small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
- Plan either a class curriculum or an interpretive activity that could be used at the zoo. Will be provided guidelines and tips for creating a successful curriculum/activity. Project to be finished prior to the completion of the internship term.
Environmental/Work Conditions:
The work requires considerable walking, prolonged standing, and lifting of items 50 pounds and less. Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions.
REQUIRED:
Criminal Background Check
Negative TB test
Preferred Start date: variable
End date: variable
15 hours/ week
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-234-9070
(Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall)
The intern program is an unpaid education internship, of which housing and medical coverage is not included. Preference will be given to marketing/graphic design related majors enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program.
Preferred qualifications include:
Familiarity with photography and shooting with a DSLR camera.
Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly photo and video editing. Understanding of graphic design is a plus.
Knowledge of social media.
Please send samples of work when applying. This can include links to videos, social media posts, or pdfs of work (personal or academic).
Samples of work may be emailed to volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
Questions:
volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
574-235-9070