About the role#
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is seeking an academic intern for the Animal Care Department. This position supports staff in a professional animal care environment focused on native fish, reptiles, and native or exotic amphibians. This role is strictly for students seeking academic credit who cannot commit to the hours required for the paid internship program. Interns are responsible for coordinating all academic requirements, including paperwork and evaluations, with their home institution and ECHO staff prior to starting.
What you'll do#
- Prepare diets and feed animals.
- Clean and maintain animal enclosures in both exhibit and back-of-house areas.
- Administer medications to animals.
- Create and install naturalistic habitats.
- Handle animals and maintain daily records of husbandry and animal wellbeing.
- Research natural history and captive husbandry practices.
- Develop and deliver 20 to 30 minute educational programs on species natural history, conservation, and captive care.
What you'll need#
- Enrollment in an academic program requiring internship credit.
- Enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and reliable work ethic.
- Ability to work independently after initial training.
- Preferred majors include animal science, wildlife biology, pre-vet, aquaculture, environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, nursing, agriculture, psychology, pharmaceutical sciences, kinesiology, or political science.
- Willingness to work in environments that may be wet or dirty.
- Physical ability to lift or relocate up to 60 pounds, as well as stoop, balance, and climb ladders.
Location & details#
- Location: Burlington, Vermont.
- Commitment: Minimum of 4 hours per week for 3 months. Additional hours can be accommodated to meet specific academic credit requirements.
- Modality: On-site. Work occurs indoors in guest and back-of-house areas, with occasional outdoor collection trips involving wading or hiking.
- Compensation: This is an unpaid position.
