Internships
Columbian Park Zoo offers a variety of exciting internship opportunities for current college students or recent graduates. All academic majors are encouraged to apply.
Internship Focus Areas (varies seasonally):
Animal Care: Ambassador Collection
Animal Care: Australia/Americas Exhibits
Animal Care: Family Farm Exhibit
Animal Care: Penguins
Animal Care: Commissary and Nutrition
Education: Animal Handling & Interpretive Programs
Education: Youth Programs
Education: Social Media Communications
Landscape/Horticulture
Seasons and Time Commitments:
Spring Internships:
- Internship runs January - April
- Orientation - January 19, 2026 (mandatory)
- Minimum 15 hours per week/13 week commitment required
- 2026 Spring Intern Application is closesd
Summer Internships:
- Internship runs May - August, flexible start and end dates
- Orientation - May 11, 2026 (mandatory)
- Full-time or part-time availability
- Minimum 20 hours per week/13 week commitment required
- The 2026 Summer Intern application is available HERE - applications are due March 6, 2026
Fall Internships:
- Internship runs August - December
- Orientation - August 24, 2025 (mandatory)
- Minimum 15 hours per week/13 week commitment required
- The 2026 Fall Intern application will be available in spring 2026
All internships are unpaid, and primarily educational in nature. Internships provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. Flexible scheduling available, including weekends, to accommodate most class/work schedules.
How does it work?
Candidates selected into the internship program are assigned a focus area based on where their skills and availability best fit. Interns are paired with a staff mentor who will help guide them through the onboarding and training process and provide advice and feedback as they gain skills. Interns begin working alongside qualified staff with the goal of attaining a level of competence in their focus area to be able to work independently by the conclusion of the internship.
What does an intern do every day?
That depends on what focus the intern is assigned to and can vary a bit depending on their work schedule. For example, there are some routine tasks that happen in the mornings so afternoon interns may not have the exact same experiences as morning interns. Likewise, interns working in animal care will have different experiences than those working in education or other roles, but we are all working together to meet our common Zoo mission! There are ample opportunities to learn more about how the puzzle pieces come together through observation, teamwork, and discussions with mentoring staff!
Click the tabs for a brief sample of things an intern in each focus area may experience on a given day:
Are there cross-training opportunities?
Potentially. There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time, so internships are structured so as to focus on a single area with the goal of proficiency, then mastery of that area. We may permit interns to shadow in other areas, provided their attendance and performance is progressing satisfactorily. Limited cross-training may be provided at the Zoo’s discretion, but should not be expected. However, as a small facility with a high degree of integration, interns can expect a significant amount of exposure to the goings-on of other areas and have ample opportunities to gain big picture perspectives from their mentors and other staff. We believe an internship will give back what you put into it. Approach it with a curious mind, intent to understand both your role and how it fits into the bigger picture, and ask lots of questions and you are bound to learn a great deal during your time here. For those interested in multiple diverse internship focus areas, we do consider interns who reapply for a second internship in a different area in subsequent semesters.
How independent are internships?
Internships at CPZ are progressively independent. In the early days you are considered a learner, working alongside or in proximity to qualified staff, with a focus on understanding a key set of tasks and responsibilities. As you gain proficiency you will be working more independently for longer stretches of time, with the end goal of eventually being able to confidently and capably complete the responsibilities of your focus area with minimal direct supervision required. However, there is always a "safety net" and a team of dedicated animal professionals available to assist, coach, explain, clarify and help you grow professionally. We encourage interns to develop open communication with zoo staff, ask questions, express interests and engage in productive conversations that help them build a better understanding of how zoos work to provide the best care for their animals and engage their communities on conservation issues.
What can I expect from my mentor?
Each intern is assigned a mentor, who will serve as a touchstone for them throughout their time at CPZ. Typically, your mentor is the senior zookeeper or educator in your focus area. Throughout your internship you will work alongside your mentor sometimes, but not all the time! You will also work directly and receive some task training from other staff members. We feel it is valuable for interns to gain experience learning to work with different individuals in order to develop strong team communication skills, adaptability, and also to benefit from multiple perspectives. Every single staff member has something valuable to teach and we embrace that mindset at CPZ! Although you may not work directly with your mentor every shift, you will have regular communication with them as they guide your training progress, provide feedback, and share insights and expertise. You will also have regular check-is with the Internship Coordinator, who will assist you with the logistical aspects of your internship (time off requests, cross-shadow opportunities, etc) and can connect you with resources and experiences to take your internship to the next level. Remember, internships are what you make of them. Interns who ask questions, demonstrate curiosity, and develop a strong communication pattern with their mentor (and other staff) tend to report the greatest satisfaction with their experience!
I have an interest in veterinary medicine. Will I get to work with the zoo vet?
Interns do not work with the zoo's vet. Those seeking direct exotic veterinary experience will be better served applying elsewhere. However, there is still value in participating in a zoo internship for prospective vet med students. Zoo internships provide hands-on, real-world experience working with animals that go beyond what you can get in a shelter or typical vet clinic setting. Animal care internships provide opportunities to learn about animal welfare, behavioral observations, enrichment as a form of "preventative medicine", zoonotic disease and hygiene, and safe animal handling. For those specifically seeking experience with exotic species, we recommend applying for an Animal Care internship with a focus in Ambassador collection or an Education internship. Both of these areas provide the broadest diversity of species and taxa, with Education internships incorporating a lot of handling and also providing opportunities to build interpretive communication skills that will benefit future veterinarians in client conversations. Farm internships also provide experience valuable for future veterinarians, particularly during the summer goat kidding season, or for those without previous livestock experience. Regardless of your area, as a small facility our zookeeping staff have an active role in triage, medication delivery, therapies, behavioral management and other processes that may be conducted by medical support staff in larger zoos. Working alongside mentors with these skills and experiences provide a valuable opportunity to learn about veterinary care plans and processes in captive exotic management.
Animal Care: Ambassador Collection
These interns provide the daily husbandry for the animals used in education programs. This includes a large variety of exotic and domestic animals and may include lizards, snakes, turtle/tortoise, small birds of prey, small mammals (ex. armadillo, opossum, sloth, wallaby, “pocket pets”, etc), parrots, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates. Daily responsibilities include things like enclosure cleaning and maintenance, preparing and feeding out diets, enrichment, health inspections, delivery of routine daily medications, weighing, nail trims/grooming, and working with established trained behaviors. An average day will also include general housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, dishes, laundry, organization of supplies, and the utilization of various record-keeping systems. During the Zoo’s open season (April-October) interns will also assist with monitoring our visitor immersion and contact areas (Family Farm, Butterfly Garden and Wallaby Walkabout) and may occasionally conduct informal keeper chats. Although this internship focuses on animal care, public interaction is a routine and regular component of all Zoo positions and should be expected.
Animal Care: Australia/Americas Exhibits
These interns provide daily care for the animals exhibited in our Australia and Americas area, which may include wallabies, New Guinea singing dog, emu, North American river otter, prairie dog, birds of prey, and various bird species. Daily responsibilities include things like preparing the outdoor exhibit area for daily use, shifting animals onto/off of exhibit as scheduled, cleaning and disinfection of interior holding areas, preparing and delivering animal diets, health inspections, enrichment and behavioral observation. An average day will also include general housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, dishes, laundry, organization of supplies, and the utilization of various record-keeping systems. During the Zoo’s open season (April-October) interns will also assist with monitoring our visitor immersion and contact areas (Family Farm, Butterfly Garden and Wallaby Walkabout) and may occasionally conduct informal keeper chats. Although this internship focuses on animal care, public interaction is a routine and regular component of all Zoo positions and should be expected.
Animal Care: Family Farm
This internship provides daily care for a variety of domestic species housed in our Family Farm exhibit and contact area, which may include llama, goats, pig, and mini horse. Daily responsibilities include stall cleaning, contact yard maintenance, animal diet preparation and delivery, grooming/weighing, exercising animals including halter walks around grounds, enrichment, and behavioral observations. Interns may also assist with seasonal tasks related to goat breeding and kidding, including baby goat health assessments and supportive care. These interns serve as a contact yard attendant for a portion of every shift, and are responsible for monitoring animal and visitor behavior and engaging with guests. Farm interns may also supervise and direct volunteers, including teen volunteers. An average day will also include general housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, dishes, laundry, organization of supplies, and the utilization of various record-keeping systems.
Animal Care: Penguins
These interns provide daily care for our African penguin colony, gaining skills and insight into a specific and unique species. Daily responsibilities include things like observation and recordkeeping, cleaning and disinfection of interior holding areas, assisting in enrichment design and diet delivery. Due to the sensitivity of this species, this area is mostly hands-off in terms of animal interaction but does provide animal husbandry experience with a more quintessential exotic and marine species. An average day will also include general housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, dishes, laundry, organization of supplies, and the utilization of various record-keeping systems. During the Zoo's open season (April-October) interns will also assist with visitor engagement and may occasionally conduct informal keeper chats (specifically the Penguin Chat) or monitor other immersion lots.
Click HERE to view the full position description for our animal care internships.
Education: Animal Handling & Interpretive Programs
These interns work hands-on with Animal Ambassadors, alongside our professional educators, to deliver informal presentations highlighting wildlife conservation messages. Interns in this area are trained on safe and appropriate animal handling techniques with a core set of Ambassador animals (see Animal Care: Ambassador Collection for a sample of animals that serve in this role.) Daily responsibilities include things like socialization, exercise and grooming of Ambassador animals, preparation of learning materials, planning short lessons and interpretive chats, delivering informal talks to audiences of various ages and in various on-site settings (field trips, birthday parties, camps, youth classes, tours, etc), traveling offsite to present animals at local venues (schools, daycares, retirement facilities and community groups), ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment, behavioral observations, and working with established trained animal plans. An average day will also include general housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, dishes, laundry, organization of supplies, disinfection of travel carriers and animal presentation tools, and the utilization of various record-keeping systems. During the Zoo’s open season (April-October) interns will also assist with monitoring our visitor immersion and contact areas (Family Farm, Butterfly Garden and Wallaby Walkabout). Interpretive communication training is provided. A high level of public engagement should be expected, along with hands-on experiences with a wide variety of species. Although this internship focuses on the programmatic aspects of the zoo, some basic husbandry tasks, such as diet delivery and cleaning up animal waste should also be expected.
Education: Youth Programs
These interns assist with our popular youth programs, which includes weekend workshops, school visits, preschool sessions and other programming developed for youth audiences during the academic year, and our popular Zoo Camp program during the summer season (camps are week-long day camp session, no residency). Camps and classes are structured and educational, rich in STEM activities, and include encounters with live Animal Ambassadors every session. Zoo youth programs are team taught with a collaborative work environment. Interns in this area will assist the lead educator in delivering wildlife science and conservation content by helping to prepare and facilitate science activities, crafts, games, etc and by providing support with classroom management. Youth programs interns are trained to handle and present a variety of Animal Ambassadors. Youth program interns will also assist with developing and delivering short, engaging activities and thematic components to complement the lead teacher’s lesson plan. Interpretive communication training is also provided, with a particular opportunity to build this skill during the summer camp season. What sets our summer camps apart is a strong focus on interpretive theming, which provides a narrative thread throughout each camp week, enhancing learning and creating a unique and fun camp environment. Interns in this area can expect to gain skills in interpretive communication, creative lesson design, animal handling, and working with youth ages 5-14. Although this internship focuses on the delivery of youth programs, interns in this area will also have opportunities to observe or assist with other types of zoo education programming, support duties, animal socialization and training activities, limited animal husbandry functions, and/or administrative tasks, as need and interest determine.
During the Spring and Summer internship periods, individuals with a special interest in working with teens may also be considered for placement working with the Zoo Teen program. Interns focusing on this program will assist with the development and delivery of this youth development volunteer program, which focuses on providing area teens with opportunities to build transferable job skills while instilling a deep love for wildlife and increased engagement with wildlife conservation issues. Interns will work directly with teens, zookeepers and educators to ensure positive outcomes for participants. Animal handling, informal public presentations, and teen mentoring are all part of this internship's regular responsibilities.
Education: Social Media Communications
These interns work with our Education and Marketing Department leaders to develop and implement the Zoo’s weekly social media plan. Social media communications involve multiple functions, including public education on wildlife and conservation issues, fostering emotional connections to the Zoo, its animal residents, mission and purpose, community-building, and the promotion of Zoo attendance, programs, special events, and products. Responsibilities include social media content creation (caption writing, photography, graphics design, reels, etc), research of trends, strategizing posts, developing campaigns, scheduling posts, monitoring public engagement, and tracking analytics. An understanding of the zoo industry’s unique PR challenges is essential for success, and training will be provided. Interns may also assist with other communications and marketing initiatives such as electronic newsletter creation and/or print material creation. Although animal handling is not a focus of this internship position, some animal handling training may be provided. Likewise, Social Media interns may also assist with program presentation or other interpretive communication opportunities as need and interest determine. This internship is appropriate for individuals seeking an entry level experience, or those with a specific interest in public service or zoos specifically.
Click here to view the full position description for our education internships.
Click here to view the full position description for our social media internships.