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Flexible Schedule
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Springfield, MO 65807
Fish and Invertebrates Internship Aquatics Internship Opportunities What we need: Our Interns learn valuable hands-on skills, taught by our Aquatics team, including water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, live food preparation, culturing jellies and much more. While interning you may perform a variety of tasks for aquatic animals including daily husbandry tasks, supporting animal training and welfare practices, and ensuring tanks/habitats are in optimal condition. While animal care interns work near our animals, applicants for these positions should not expect direct animal contact, handling, or training. What you may do: While interning with the team, you may be trained and may interact with large predatory sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, saltwater and freshwater fish, seahorses, invertebrates, live corals, and jellies. Actively observe animals’ behavior. Prepare daily diets and maintain accurate records of assigned animals. Gain knowledge with fish identifications. Assist with maintaining back-of-house areas. The Aquatics department is comprised of 5 specialized teams. You’ll be placed on a team based on availability, skill, and preference. Aquatic Holding: As an aquatic holding intern, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of aquatic animals who may be housed in this special area (sometimes referred to as our "animal hospital) for additional observation, medical care, or are new to the facility. Interns on this team will gain a diverse knowledge of quarantine methods, biosecurity protocols, and safety procedures for feedings and water quality adjustments. Jellies: As an intern on the jellyfish and live food organism team, you’ll learn about jellyfish biology, development, and captive care, develop aquarium and aquaculture skills, and become familiar with the inner workings of public aquariums. Natives and Amazon: While interning with the Natives and Amazon team, you’ll work with a diverse range of freshwater fish such as sturgeon, alligator gar, giant Amazon arapaima, freshwater stingrays, giant catfish, and coastal invertebrates such as horseshoe crabs, southern spider crabs, and left-handed whelks. Interns will gain a vast knowledge of fish identification, aquatic exhibit basics, animal training for feeding and procedures, and life support systems to prepare themselves for future careers. Marvels of the Deep: While interning with "Marvels", you will be trained and may interact with large predatory sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, Spider crabs, seahorses, and live corals. Several valuable hands-on skills will be taught including water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, and live food preparation. Shipwreck/Connector: As an intern on the Shipwreck team, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of tropical saltwater animals including sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays. You’ll learn how to prepare animal diets, understand target feeding, how to collect and track water quality data, and assist in cleaning the exhibits. How this will help us: The aquatics team is constantly evolving and welcoming new species and opportunities to enhance our animals’ lives and the guest experience. Having dynamic and driven interns, or volunteers, join our team will ensure and promote effective and efficient care of the department’s animal collection. How this will help you: One on one mentoring is a daily part of this position and possible opportunities for special projects are typically available. An aquatics internship provides exposure to diverse fields of wildlife, aquaculture, fisheries, and private aquaria and will help prepare you for a career in aquatic animal husbandry, biology, wildlife management, and many related scientific fields. Skills & Experience: Intern must be 18 years or older Self-starter Detail-Oriented Requires walking/standing approximately 75% of the time, sitting 10% of the time, forward bending and crouching 15% of the time, lifting up to 50 lbs. Availability/Time Commitment: Intern must commit to a minimum of 24 Hours per week, with at least one 8-hour shift for a minimum of 10 weeks. Interns must complete a minimum of 240 hours, along with delivering a presentation on an assigned project to the Life Science, Education, and Volunteer Services teams. The internship will run from September - December, January - May, or June- August. Intern will work early morning hours through the early afternoon, typically 6am until 3pm. Please note that this is an unpaid internship. Fun fact about the department: The Marvel's gallery includes the largest predatory sharks displayed in Missouri. Application You will need to fill out an application on our website at www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer/. If you have any questions, please reach out to our volunteer team! Volunteer Services Contact Info: Phone: 417-709-3900; Email: wow.volunteers@wondersofwildlife.org Website: www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer/
Date Posted: 2024-04-18
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Flexible Schedule
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Springfield, MO 65807
Animal Care Volunteers What you may do: Actively observe animals’ behavior. Cleaning of the commissary. Prepare daily diets and maintain accurate records of assigned animals. Gain knowledge with mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, or fish identifications. Assist with maintaining back of house areas. While animal care volunteers work near our animals, applicants for these positions should not expect direct animal contact, handling, or training on any regular basis. How this will help us: The animal care teams are constantly evolving and welcoming new species and opportunities to enhance our animals’ lives and the guest experience. Having dynamic and driven volunteers join our team will ensure and promote effective and efficient care of the department’s animal collection. How this will help you: Several valuable hands-on skills will be taught including disease management, animal nutrition, live food preparation, and much more. Animal care volunteer opportunities may help prepare you for a career in animal husbandry and many zoology, biology, or science related fields. There are two main departments within Life Sciences: Aquatics: Fish and Invertebrates and Keeper: Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles. The departmental teams, with a short description, are listed below: Team Opportunities: Aquatics Team: Fish and Invertebrates Aquatic Holding: As an aquatic holding intern, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of aquatic animals who may be housed in this special area (sometimes referred to as our "animal hospital) for additional observation, medical care, or are new to the facility. Interns on this team will gain a diverse knowledge of quarantine methods, biosecurity protocols, and safety procedures for feedings and water quality adjustments. Jellies: As an intern on the jellyfish and live food organism team, you’ll learn about jellyfish biology, development, and captive care, develop aquarium and aquaculture skills, and become familiar with the inner workings of public aquariums. Natives and Amazon: While interning with the Natives and Amazon team, you’ll work with a diverse range of freshwater fish such as sturgeon, alligator gar, giant Amazon arapaima, freshwater stingrays, giant catfish, and coastal invertebrates such as horseshoe crabs, southern spider crabs, and left-handed whelks. Interns will gain a vast knowledge of fish identification, aquatic exhibit basics, animal training for feeding and procedures, and life support systems to prepare themselves for future careers. Marvels of the Deep: While interning with "Marvels", you will be trained and may interact with large predatory sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, Spider crabs, seahorses, and live corals. Several valuable hands-on skills will be taught including water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, and live food preparation. Shipwreck/Connector: As an intern on the Shipwreck team, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of tropical saltwater animals including sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays. You’ll learn how to prepare animal diets, understand target feeding, how to collect and track water quality data, and assist in cleaning the exhibits. Keeper Team: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles While interning with the BMW team, you may be trained and may interact with river otters, alligators, black bear, hellbenders, owls, snakes, beaver, salamanders, bats, and turtles, among other animals. The typical BMW team member’s day consists of a lot of cleaning, dealing with biosolids, and chemical odors. There may be times when an intern assists the BMW team with animal training, watches a veterinarian procedure, and interacts with guests. Commissary Volunteers assist with an assortment of tasks that allow us to provide a complete and balanced diet to our animal/fish collection. Volunteers will help with rearranging and restocking the walk-in freezers, learn about all necessary food safety protocols, wash produce bins/rotate stock, and occasionally prepare diets. The volunteer may also learn about animal nutrition in detail. ( Shift available Thursdays 6 am - 12 pm) Skills & Experience: Volunteers must be 18 years or older Self-starter Detail-Oriented Requires walking/standing approximately 75% of the time, sitting 10% of the time, forward bending and crouching 15% of the time, lifting up to 50 lbs. Availability/Time Commitment: Animal Care Volunteers are required to work at least one 4-hour shift per week. There are daily opportunities with back-of-house shifts starting at 6 pm and ending by 3 pm. Please note that not all volunteers will be accepted and while your team preference will be considered, it does not guarantee placement. Fun Fact about the Department: Jellyfish raised in captivity have little stinging ability compared to those in the wild allowing staff to touch jellies with their bare hands. Volunteer Services Contact Info: Phone: 417-709-3900 Email: wow.volunteers@wondersofwildlife.org Website: www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer/
Date Posted: 2024-04-18
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Flexible Schedule
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Springfield, MO 65807
Guest Engagement Guide: What we need: Be among the first to greet our guests with a cheerful smile as you welcome them to the largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world. Assist guests by providing genuine Ozarks hospitality and legendary service as you help them locate needed facilities and amenities as you engage them in conversation to build excitement for the adventure that awaits just around the corner! What you may do: Guest engagement guides are stationed at exhibits throughout the aquarium to provide information on the species and habitats showcased. As a volunteer, you will be provided with information that will help you inform our visitors about the mysteries of the deep by presenting fascinating facts, asking thoughtful questions, and telling exciting stories. This is a vital part of our mission, as it provides our visitors with a deeper understanding and connection to the living world. Provide guests with educational and engaging information about the habitat, animals, and conservation messages within each gallery. Assist guests at aquarium touch experiences (stingray touch and invertebrate touch). Assist guests with information to make their experience world-class. Opportunities to assist with special events and related activities How this will help us: This role helps Wonders of Wildlife extend our reach and goal to educate people of all ages through an authentic, educational, and fun celebration of wildlife conservation. How this will help you: Volunteers are able to explore their passions and discover new interests through versatile trainings on conservation, various exhibits, a variety of animals and much more! WOW volunteers also have many first-hand opportunities for unique experiences, retail and ticket benefits, and are celebrated during regular team member events. Skills & Experience Needed: Must be at least 16 years of age Comfortable and confident speaking with the public Excited to share information on animals, upcoming events, and conservation efforts On-going gallery and exhibit trainings offered to build skills and confidence Passionate about WOW's mission to celebrate hunters, anglers, and stewards of the land Ability to stand and sit for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the day Availability/Time Commitment: Weekly shifts preferred; Volunteers must maintain an active status consisting of 6 shifts per quarter (3 consecutive months) Volunteers self-schedule using the Better Impact app with daily opportunities to fit your busy lifestyle Mandatory orientation offered once a month; days of the week vary by month Fun Fact about the Department: Volunteers logged over 25,000 hours of service in 2021. Volunteer Services Contact Info: Phone: 417-709-3900 Email: wow.volunteers@wondersofwildlife.org Website: www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer/
Date Posted: 2024-04-18
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Flexible Schedule
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Springfield, MO 65807
High School Volunteer High School Volunteers interact with guests all over the aquarium and museum. This program allows high school students to learn about conservation, animals, habitats from around the world, public speaking, and teamwork. This program is a great way to build a resume or add to a college application. What we need: Be among the first to greet our guests with a cheerful smile as you welcome them to the largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world. Assist guests by providing genuine Ozarks hospitality and legendary service as you help them locate needed facilities and amenities as you engage them in conversation to build excitement for the adventure that awaits just around the corner! What you may do: Guest engagement guides are stationed at exhibits throughout the aquarium to provide information on the species and habitats showcased. As a volunteer, you will be provided with information that will help you inform our visitors about the mysteries of the deep by presenting fascinating facts, asking thoughtful questions, and telling exciting stories. This is a vital part of our mission, as it provides our visitors with a deeper understanding and connection to the living world. Provide guests with educational and engaging information about the habitat, animals, and conservation messages within each gallery. Assist guests at aquarium touch experiences (stingray touch and invertebrate touch). Assist guests with information to make their experience world-class. Opportunities to assist with special events and related activities How this will help us: This role helps Wonders of Wildlife extend our reach and goal to educate people of all ages through an authentic, educational, and fun celebration of wildlife conservation. How this will help you: Volunteers are able to explore their passions and discover new interests through versatile trainings on conservation, various exhibits, a variety of animals and much more! WOW volunteers also have many first-hand opportunities for unique experiences, retail and ticket benefits, and are celebrated during regular team member events. Skills & Experience: Must be at least 16 years of age Comfortable and confident speaking with the public Excited to share information on animals, upcoming events, and conservation efforts On-going gallery and exhibit trainings offered to build skills and confidence Passionate about WOW's mission to celebrate hunters, anglers, and stewards of the land Ability to stand and sit for periods of time and to move intermittently throughout the day Availability/Time Commitment: Weekly shifts preferred; Volunteers must maintain an active status consisting of 6 shifts per quarter (3 consecutive months) Volunteers self-schedule using the Better Impact app with daily opportunities to fit your busy lifestyle Mandatory orientation offered once a month; days of the week vary by month Fun Fact about the Department: Volunteers logged over 25,000 hours of service in 2021. Volunteer Services Contact Info: Phone: 417-709-3900 Email: wow.volunteers@wondersofwildlife.org Website: www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer/
Date Posted: 2024-04-18
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Flexible Schedule
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Springfield, MO 65807
Wonders of Wildlife has several different opportunities for volunteering: Adults College Students High School Students Groups Families There are multiple ways to get involved- Guest Engagement Guides and Greeters Animal Care Aquatics Team: Fish and Invertebrates Keeper Team: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles Commissary Keeper: Diet Prep and Husbandry Diving Education Administration - Volunteer Services, Human Resources, Marketing, PR, Group Sales, etc We offer free training and plenty of fun benefits! Check out www.wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer for more information!
Date Posted: 2024-04-18
