Job/Volunteer
How To Apply

Application

A student intern MUST be receiving academic credit from, or fulfilling an academic requirement for an accredited educational institution. In most instances, student interns are upper division majors or minors in the areas of biological science, horticulture, pre-veterinary medicine, education, conservation biology or related disciplines.

Internships are unpaid and are 10 to 14 weeks in length and 30 to 40 hours per week.

Applications MUST Include:

  • Completed application form
  • Cover Letter including a paragraph explaining why you are interested in an internship at the Minnesota Zoo;
  • Resume;
  • Transcripts; and,
  • Letter of recommendation from an advisor or supervisor
Please note: Incomplete application packets will not be considered.

Application Deadlines:

All application materials must be received by the following deadlines unless otherwise noted in the internship descriptions.

Internship Period

Application Deadline

Spring Internship: (February - May)

DUE December 1st

Summer Internship: (May - September)

DUE March 15th

Fall Internship: (September - November)

DUE August 1st

Winter Internship: (November - January)

DUE October 1st



 

Marine Mammals Internship

The marine mammal department oversees the daily management and care of the Zoo’s Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and northern sea otters. Daily dolphin shows are presented in the Dolphin Stadium. These shows emphasize the natural abilities and behaviors of dolphins and the importance of marine life and ocean conservation.

Year-round Internship Opportunities:

Approximately 40 hours/week for a 12 week period with days off usually falling between Monday through Friday. College is credit required.

Responsibilities for the Marine Mammal Internship include preparing diets, assisting in cleaning kitchen and animal areas, being involved in behavioral enrichment, and assisting the staff during dolphin presentations. In addition, marine mammal interns are instructed in various areas of marine mammal management and given weekly quizzes on a particular subject. Interns are asked to memorize part of the Dolphin Show script so they can become comfortable and have experience on a microphone, and they are required to complete a 2-3 page paper on a topic of marine mammal conservation, species, or environmental issue that interests them. Interns are also required to design a toy for the dolphins. The marine mammal intern supervisor meets with each intern to discuss career opportunities in the field and offer advice regarding next steps once their internship is completed.

Duties to include:

  • Prepare food for dolphins and otters and daily maintenance of kitchen area
  • Assist in cleaning animal, staff and kitchen areas
  • Interns will be involved in behavioral enrichment for the dolphins
  • Work with other interns as a team
  • Accurate record keeping
  • Assist in developing and implementing a behavioral enrichment project for the dolphins
  • Assist with reference work or additional tasks as needed

For more information, please contact:
Internship Coordinator Jill Wallin, Human Resources
13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124
E-mail: jill.wallin@state.mn.us
Phone: 952.431.9219
Toll-free: 800.366.7811 ext. 219
Fax: 952.431.9211
TTY: 800.627.3529
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