Conservation Education

Under the direction of the Director of Conservation Education, Lead Education Specialist, and Education Specialists, the Conservation Education Full Time Intern will observe and assist with developing, coordinating, maintaining, and evaluating educational programs, materials, and other related activities.  Upon showing the skillset, the Conservation Education Intern will aid in presenting educational programs and eventually run programs on their own, for all ages in various program formats.  
 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Education related responsibilities:

Assist with all tasks involved with any educational on-site and off-site education programs including but not limited to animal kingdom presentations, keeper/exhibit/exercise yard chats, any CEP programs, scout programs, after-hours events, creek studies, nature hikes, birthday parties, encounters etc.

Involvement in any program is not guaranteed as the quality of our programming is paramount. Conservation Interns will have to show they are skilled enough to provide a quality program before being allowed or expected to participate in programming.
Set up for programming:

Gather appropriate materials, prepare, and gather specific animals, and set up any required or requested materials to execute the program scheduled.
Get animals to appropriate spaces (onsite or offsite) for programming at appropriate times.

 Facilitating or Assisting with Education:

Assist with or facilitate the program on time & appropriately for the targeted audience.
Reflect positively on the zoo & present accurate information.
Help fulfill the Lehigh Valley Zoo’s mission and any campaigns or initiatives they are working on.
Return all animals to their appropriate enclosures
Place any materials back to proper location
Clean up utilized spaces back to original conditions

Research. This includes researching the appropriate information about specific species/habitats/topics related to the species we have here at the Lehigh Valley Zoo and the ambassador animals that interns work with directly as to prepare for facilitating educational programs to the best of the intern’s ability. Interns may also be asked to research and create materials such as infographics, exhibit graphics, newsletters, etc. It is expected that all information is correct and accurate.
Learn and execute appropriate educational techniques. It is an expectation for the intern to invest effort into developing their educational technique skills and focus on the concept of education more than just reiterating factual knowledge.
Complete required courses on San Diego Zoo Global and with satisfactory results.
Learn and stick to any specific program content, materials, or messaging. Creativity is encouraged but general program formats, if established, are expected to be followed.
Assist staff members in brainstorming, developing, and implementing new programs, content, materials, or messaging. This includes any research, legwork, or office work needed to getting new programs implemented.
Assist with any daily scheduled or unscheduled programs or activities including but not limited to scheduled mingles, camps, animal husbandry or related tasks, crowd control, general house-keeping tasks, etc.
Assist staff with keeping any presented information (verbal, print, published, website, etc.) up to date and easily accessible.
Stay up to date on current related topics or news. Interns are expected to be knowledgeable on current events related to topics of the field or educational programming.

Animal Handling Responsibilities:

It is expected and required that an intern reads, understands, and abides by any protocol or policies related to animal handling at all times.

This includes staying up-to-date on changes made

It is expected that the intern does NOT handle or touch ANY animal until they have been properly trained on that animal, received permission from a full time staff member, and has followed any policies outlined in the “Animal Handling Standard Operating Procedure”.
The intern is not to make any sounds or movements utilized for training.

Animal Health / Husbandry Related Responsibilities:

These expectations are in place ANYTIME an intern is around an animal or animal space.

Keep any animal space clean and organized. An animal space can be a room or area where animals live, animal related materials are housed, animals are exercised in, animals are presented in, etc.
Keep enclosures consistent with how the keeper has set them up (ex. if we move a hideaway to get an animal out for programming, it is expected to leave the enclosure just as we found it).
Intern is expected to be aware of any changes related to animal handling or animal health. Animals “OFF PROGRAM” are not to be used or handled under any circumstances.
Monitor and evaluate animal welfare on a continuing basis. Intern should constantly be looking for signs of stress or physical abnormalities while working with or around any Lehigh Valley Zoo animals.
Inform appropriate staff of any observed abnormalities, concerns, or issues.
Keep any carriers clean and organized.
Follow any safety procedures in place for staff or animals. Including, but not limited to, wearing gloves, personal protection equipment (masks), and utilizing foot baths.

ON RARE OCCASSIONS, the intern may be asked to assist with animal care related tasks:

Assist with and/or perform any task they are cleared to perform related to Ambassador Animal Husbandry, including but not limited to, the care, exercise, training, enrichment, welfare evaluations, and other husbandry related tasks.
Help maintain clean and organize animal enclosures, spaces, and related materials at all times. The standard is set by AZA requirements / recommendations and must at least fulfill USDA standards at all times.

Keep workspace, classrooms, office, animal spaces, vehicles, and etc. clean, neat and organized.
Directly communicate with the Education Specialist(s), Lead Education Specialist, and/or Director of Conservation Education in terms of Lehigh Valley Zoo related matters, education programs, Ambassador Animals, and any other relevant topics.
General maintenance as needed.
Drive zoo vehicles within and outside of zoo limits. This includes but is not limited to driving the Education vans, John Deer “Gator”, golf cart, or Kubota’s in or around the Lehigh Valley Zoo and to educational outreaches or offsite errands. Utility vehicles are only to be used when intern has been cleared by an Internship Coordinator and all zoo driving policies must be followed at all times.
Perform other related work as required or requested by Education Staff or zoo manager.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have graduated high school or obtained a GED. Must be over the age of 18 years old.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Intern must have established skills or be willing and open to learn new principles & practices of educational program development, learning theories, interpretive techniques, teaching methods, and teaching all age levels on a variety of topics. Intern must also have established skills and/or be willing and open to improve oral and written communication skills, effective presentation skills, and effective interpersonal skills. Intern must be willing and able to function and perform tasks independently and as a part of a team. Intern must have the ability to coordinate a variety of work activities and to ensure the timely completion of assignments. Individuals must be highly motivated and organized with attention to detail and have the ability to use computers and computer technology.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Intern must be willing and able to read, understand, and follow all Conservation Education Standard Operating Procedures and other official departmental and zoo-wide documents.
Ability to receive instruction and carry them out with relative independence. 
Must have established and proficient verbal and written communication skills. 
Ability & willingness to learn to communicate technical information to a variety of audiences.
Must have skills to foresee and apply safety precautions applicable to the work. 
Ability to see, hear and communicate clearly. 
Must possess valid driver’s license.
No allergies to plants and animals which may interfere with the ability to work. 
Ability and willingness to remain on feet or sit for long periods of time, climb stairs, bend, and move/lift 60lbs. 
Ability and willingness to work outside in all weather conditions. 
Ability and willingness to work flexible schedule, which may include weekends, holidays, evenings, overnight and after hours assignments. 
Ability to cover the cost and receive satisfactory results required on criminal record check, fingerprinting clearance, and child abuse history clearance.
Ability and willingness to work overtime required as a result of short deadlines.
Ability to follow any zoo policies, department specific or all zoo policies that apply to the person.
Must be honest, transparent, and willing to communicate about work related topics or personal topics that have or may effect performance/work. 
Must be punctual.
Must have Covid-19 vaccination.

How to apply:

Email Resume and Cover letter to Cher Vatalaro at cvatalaro@lvzoo.org