Zoo Internship

[kyle]

Well, I know I told some of you I'd be starting work at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo this year, and I started today! Just turned 18, which is the magic number making me able to work with the zoo's animals.

Officially, I'm the spring Intern for the desert dome reptile areas, and my first day was pretty awesome, just shadowed the current keepers and got an idea of what I'll be doing. The position is unpaid for now, but hopefully I'll be on the summer time pay role. I'll try and keep you guys updated on whats happening if you're interested

 

[pamela]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[john]

that is just great. That is what I want to do but I dont know how to go about doin it. How did you get the internship. Did you have to go and talk to people at the zoo.

 

[kyle]

Yea man, I've been involved in the herpetological society for 3 or 4 years now, since I was a freshman in high school, and I got to know the people involved in that pretty well over the last couple of years. Some of the people in the herp club also work at the zoo, and I did a project this year of high school on Giant Salamanders. That project help make a relationship even stronger with the curator of reptiles and amphibians and he encouraged me to apply for the internship as well as the summertime job.

So yeah, the best thing you can do is see what is available near you first of all, and figure if you will be able to do it or not. If there isn't something visibly available, head to where you want to work/intern, and voice what your intentions are, so people realize there is an interest. I'm almost positive you can get something arranged, I really have never known a person who works at a zoo and is impersonable. I've been to a lot of zoos even though I'm young, and everyone I meet has been extremely nice, helpful, and full of knowledge they want to share with others. I hope you can get involved some how!

 

[john]

Be careful - I did the same thing 30 years ago, and it turned into a career.

Best of luck,
John