Naturalist Intern

~ The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, research, education and quality animal care. ~

AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round and provides them with spacious enclosures and quality animal care. Most of the animals that arrive at the AWCC become permanent residents and will always have a home here.

The Center maintains over 200 acres of spacious habitats for animals to feel at home and display their natural “wild” behavior. Visitors may see brown bears cooling off in the water, a bull moose strutting, wood bison roaming on pastures and more.

Position Overview

A Naturalist Intern’s primary responsibility is assisting and supporting the year-round education team in all interpretation, educational programming, and tours both on and off site. This position will also be trained on animal care duties and procedure.

This position is designed for the college student or recent graduate interested in working in this field whether or not their current degree path is directly related. In this position interns will have the opportunity to learn and gain skills relative to position duties.

Position Duties

•  Interpretation and Education:
  o Perform daily talks about AWCC and Alaska wildlife to a
  diverse audience of guests
  o Conduct daily walking tours that often include animal
  interactions
  o Be a step on guide for coaches driving through AWCC
  o Provide informal interpretation at set stations or while
  walking through of the facility
  o Give animal presentations to school groups and private groups
  o Provide interpretation and facilitate positive guest experience at information stations
  o Prepare interpretive program outlines for presentation to the public and AWCC staff
  o Facilitate animal interactions with porcupine, Sitka black-tailed deer, reindeer, moose, and other animals
  o Facilitate positive guest experience by maintaining a positive attitude, smiling, and enforcing guest viewing and animal safety expectations
• Sanctuary Presentability and Safety:
  o Planting, weeding and harvesting in garden beds
  o Ensure trash does not find its way into animal habitats
  o Pull invasive plant species & alders
  o Whack weeds
  o Facilitate service-learning groups
  o Clean interpretive signs and buildings
• Assist Animal Care:
  o Cleaning enclosures
  o Collect browse, prepare diets, and wash dishes
  o Husbandry and feeding duties as assigned
• Workdays and hours assigned by Director of Education will vary by week; full 40 hours and 5 days per week, maximum 8 hours per day
• Other duties as assigned

Note: Click here to view the full position description on our website.  

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to email your resume, cover letter, and three professional references with email and phone contact.
• Applications are due February 1st.