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.
Dates of Employment: August 26, 2019 – January 24, 2020
Areas of Responsibility:
Animal Care interns typically work 35 hours a week and are paid an hourly wage. Duties take place on weekends and alternating weekends and evenings. Interns receive orientation, training and supervision.
During the internship 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, weed-whacking 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 effectively teach youth on school field trips, mainly pre-school to middle school ages. There may also be occasions interns teach high school and adults groups.Teaching topics may include farm discovery, candle dipping and general nature or farm exploration. Activities may include interpretation of nature and farm communities, nature hikes, animal interpretation, etc.
- Assist with special events such as the Apple Fest and other special events as assigned.
- Learn how to greet visitors, take admission for Aullwood property, answer phone calls and operate the front desk.
- 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:
- Gain valuable work experience and develop and refine professional skills.
- Animal husbandry of different domestic animals and their uses.
- Experience teaching and public speaking to groups of all ages.
- Opportunity to network with environmental professionals.
- Learn Ohio natural history.
- Independent planning and execution of specific tasks.
- 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, 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 regular lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. for short periods of time.
- Willingness 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 Animal Care interns have 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 fully furnished and each intern has their own bedroom and a shared living room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom. Interns are not charged rent to live in the intern house and utilities are covered by Aullwood. The intern house is located by the Nature Center.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jul 25 2019
Active Until:
Aug 25 2019
Hiring Organization:
National Audubon Society
industry:
Nonprofit