Animal Care interns learn how to build skills and knowledge that directly relate to the care and maintenance of a wide variety of farm animals in a public farm setting.
Areas of Responsibility:
Animal Care interns typically work 35 hours a week and are paid an hourly wage. Duties take place on alternating weekends and evenings. Interns receive orientation, training and supervision.
Animal Care interns will:
- Be trained to correctly perform daily and weekly farm chores taking care of horses, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, goats, etc.
- Learn how to maintain a safe, secure, healthy and humane environment for all animals.
- Help maintain pristine living quarters for all animals by cleaning stalls, maintaining barns and helping with the overall upkeep of the farm.
- Assist with animal care record keeping.
- Assist the Large Animal Veterinarian Tech with maintenance of the educational garden growing fruits, vegetables and flowers that are safe for consumption by various farm animals. Maintenance of the garden includes watering, pruning, deadheading plants, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, and conducting integrated pest management.
- Learn how to and effectively plan, implement and teach Summer Earth Adventures classes (day camps) with a focus on natural history, teaching students from pre-school through middle school in an outdoor setting. Activities may include nature hikes, pond/creek studies, farm exploration, working with animals, gardening, etc.
- Learn how to develop lesson plans for Summer Earth Adventures classes for children age 2 years old through 7th grade.
- Learn basic ecological concepts and natural history.
- Assist Aullwood staff in executing special events.
- Assist with various assigned projects throughout the internship.
- Learn to perform water quality testing.
- Help support day to day operations of Aullwood Audubon.
- Reside in on-site housing provided by Audubon.
Educational Background:
Have completed sophomore year of college majoring in Agriculture Management, Animal Behavior, Animal Biology, Animal Science, Veterinary Sciences, Zoology or a related field.
Skills/Experience:
- Willingness to work with all types of animals (large and small), as well as perform tasks for their care such as cleaning stalls of bedding and manure.
- Willingness to work off-hours or after-hours in order to care for sick, pregnant/baby animals or respond to an emergency.
- Excellent ability to communicate and interact with the general public.
- Experience teaching and working with children is a plus.
- A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
- Must be able to sit, stand, kneel, bend, stoop, grab and reach on uneven work surfaces for extended periods of time.
- Ability to transport oneself by foot over a variety of terrain that may be wet, slippery, uneven or rocky.
- Capable of regularly lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. for short periods of time.
- Willing to operate hand and power tools and various herbicide applicators.
- Ability and willingness to work outside in all weather conditions.
- Be self-motivated, able to follow directions and work independently.
- It is strongly recommended that the Animal Care intern has his/her own vehicle.
- Interns are required to reside in on-site housing provided by Audubon as a condition of employment. Interns are sometimes given responsibilities outside of a 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. workday and living on-site will contribute to an overall experience and understanding of the daily requirements of running a nature center and farm. The intern house is furnished and each intern has his/her own bedroom and a shared living room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom. Interns are not charged rent to live in the intern house and untilities are covered by Aullwood. The intern house is located by the Nature Center.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Mar 17 2019
Active Until:
Apr 17 2019
Hiring Organization:
National Audubon Society
industry:
Nonprofit