Internships

Niabi Zoo offers many exciting internship opportunities in a variety of fields. Niabi Zoo is a unique environment where interns can participate in hands-on activities and gain valuable experience in a zoo setting.

General Requirements
Application Procedure
Emphasis Areas
Contact Information

Internship - General Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must be enrolled in a two (2) or four (4) year college or university.
You must maintain at least an overall average of “C”.
You must submit a written proposal stating your goals for the internship. A supervising professor must approve and participate in your internship if you will be receiving credit.

Application Procedure

Click here to download an application. Prior to the internship interview, we must have on file:

Completed application
Resume
Copy of Transcripts
Proposal for internship
A letter of reference from an advisor or professor

Emphasis Areas

Education

Conservation Education
This is a non paid internship opportunity under the supervision of the educational director. This intern will have the opportunity to help develop conservation curriculum and teach various zoo classes/camps to children between the ages of 2 and 14. They will research and plan lessons/activities and then produce the required lesson materials. In addition, this intern will work directly with school field trip groups by providing short programs to enhance the educational aspect of their trip to the zoo. The hours are flexible, as required by the class schedule, and will include some Saturdays.

Marketing and Public Relations

Development and Fundraising
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of marketing staff, interns will assist in researching available grant and fundraising opportunities, assist in grant writing, planning, coordination and implementation of fundraising projects.

Event and Corporate Sponsors
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of marketing staff, interns will assist in seeking event sponsors that will provide monetary donations, product donations or free demonstrations for events. Interns will also establish corporate sponsor relationships, and will assist in writing sponsor proposals. This intern may attend sponsor and media meetings.

Membership and A.D.O.P.T. Program Development
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of marketing staff, interns will assist in analyzing data on the Niabi Zoological Society membership and the A.D.O.P.T. program, in order to establish the distribution of current members. Niabi Zoo staff may use the analysis to increase members and create new programs. The intern will support the data analysis by researching various membership and A.D.O.P.T. programs from other organizations.

Public Relations
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of marketing staff, interns will prepare press releases, propose feature ideas to local media, submit ZooNooz newsletter articles, update Niabi Zoo’s web site, promote Niabi Zoo programs, and assist in expanding Niabi Zoo’s regional public relations. Interns will also keep current with local and regional activities, and their effects on Niabi Zoo.

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration

Event Coordination
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of education staff, interns will have the opportunity to assist in the planning, coordination and implementation of events held at Niabi Zoo, as well as events that Niabi Zoo is involved in off zoo grounds. The intern will also assist in the writing of commercials for events. Niabi Zoo events encourage visitors to enjoy the recreational value of the zoo, as well as appreciate Niabi Zoo as an educational resource.

Safari Sleepover Program
The Safari Sleepover is a fun and educational overnight family event. Under supervision of education staff, interns will be trained to present a guided zoo tour, education program with live animals, and prepare a campfire dinner and breakfast. Interns are responsible for the campers during this program, under the supervision of zoo staff. This internship opportunity involves guest services, education, conservation and public speaking.

Sciences

Animal Behavior: Environmental Enrichment
This is a non paid internship. Niabi Zoo’s environmental enrichment program creates activities for the animals that encourage natural behaviors or activity. This may be a toy, activity or treat. Under supervision of zoo staff, the intern will research, create and implement an animal enrichment project. When developing an enrichment project, the animal species, as well as the animal behavior must be carefully researched and monitored.

Animal Husbandry
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of zoo staff, the intern will assist zookeepers in cleaning, feeding and care of animals at Niabi Zoo. The intern will develop an understanding of animal behaviors, care, and diets of a variety of types of animals.

Conservation
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of zoo staff, the intern will research current conservation trends related to animals, plants, zoos or other approved topics, and write a report and give a presentation at the Kohler Education Center at Niabi Zoo. Their report will become part of the Kohler Education Resource library.

Horticulture
This is a non paid internship. Under supervision of zoo staff, the intern will research flora that is native to a specific Niabi Zoo animal's habitat and create a labeled garden plot for display on zoo grounds. The intern will press each plant species, and these samples will become part of the Niabi Zoo herbarium collection.

For more information please write, email or call us at:

Niabi Zoological Society
Internship Opportunities
12908 Niabi Zoo Road
Coal Valley, IL 61240
(309) 799-3482 Ext. 235
Email: