The Bronx Zoo, a renowned wildlife conservation organization, offers a diverse range of internship opportunities for individuals interested in various fields, including animal care, education, and conservation. These internships provide valuable work experience, skills training, and networking opportunities, making them an attractive option for zoo touring enthusiasts.
The WCS Internship Initiative
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Internship Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to connect New York City youth with high-quality work experiences, professional development, and careers at WCS’s five wildlife parks. This initiative focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by standardizing internships, providing compensation for all positions, developing a DEI-aligned recruitment and selection procedure, supporting internship supervisors, and cultivating interns for future paid positions at WCS and beyond.
Internship Opportunities and Eligibility
The Bronx Zoo offers over 300 internships each year, with 49% of interns since 2022 holding multiple positions at WCS. High school sophomores or juniors living in the Bronx can apply for the Project TRUE Field Research Assistant program, which involves conducting field research at the Bronx Zoo and collaborating with scientists and educators. The WCS Career Lattice, an integrated careers pathway program, connects, develops, and advances young people from low-income communities in their professional journeys.
Internship Benefits and Requirements
Interns at the Bronx Zoo receive various benefits, such as mentoring, stipends, in-depth training, assistance in college applications, and yearly follow-up survey data collection. Program requirements include attending all sessions, working with a research team, and participating in yearly follow-up surveys.
Application Process and Timeline
The application process for the Project TRUE Field Research Assistant program is open from January to February, with interviews conducted in early March and offers made by mid-March. The summer program runs from late June to August, followed by a college boot camp in August and a fall program from September to December. The Bronx Science Consortium Poster Symposium takes place in January.
Support and Benefits for WCS Youth
WCS offers a range of support and benefits for youth, including training and career exploration opportunities, a monthly digital newsletter, and the Mentoring Training Toolkit, a practitioner’s guide for cultural institutions interested in eliciting meaningful feedback from the next generation of employees.
Conclusion
The Bronx Zoo internships provide a unique opportunity for zoo touring enthusiasts to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and contribute to the conservation of wildlife. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, these internships aim to empower young individuals from diverse backgrounds and prepare them for successful careers in the field of wildlife conservation and beyond.
References:
– Bronx Zoo Internship Initiative Evaluation
– Bronx Zoo Internship Opportunities
– Bronx Zoo Youth Programs
– Project TRUE Internship
– Bronx Zoo Internships