The Biophilia Internship Program is offered annually in June and July. Interns will participate in many hands-on environmental programs that include, but are not limited to, teaching young children, caring for animals, program preparation, cleaning, and public outreach. All internships are volunteer positions and therefore unpaid. This program is an opportunity for individuals to increase their knowledge of wildlife and conservation along with sharpening their public speaking and communication skills. If you have time or talents to share, we’d love for you to join us in helping visitors discover their own biophilia and leave each day feeling inspired, connected, and fulfilled.

Intern Requirements

• Application deadline is May 27th 2026

• Age 16 +

• 2 completed teacher recommendation forms (for students only)

• Photograph waiver (for use on our social media)

• Have reliable transportation

• Attend mandatory orientation on June 1st

• Desire to learn about native wildlife

• Be friendly, dependable, and able to follow directions from staff

• Commit to the outlined schedule based on your internship area of choice

Time Commitment

We thank you for your valuable time and intend to match your interest with our needs, regardless of a lack of prior experience. We are passionate about educating and sharing the wonder of the natural world with the community. We ask Interns to commit to a regular schedule—the more time you’re able to give, the more opportunities and experiences you will gain. Below is the minimum time commitment we ask from our valuable interns.

Education and Outreach

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday- these are the days we have programming for the public

• 2 days a week, the same days if possible. (ex. John comes every tue and thur)

• Tuesday 8:30-1pm Private group lessons

• Wednesday 8:30-3pm Day camp for children ages 5-12

• Thursday 8:30- 3pm Day camp for parents and children

• Friday 8:30-3pm Public outreach day

• This area can include opportunities such as: engaging with the community, educating visitors, answering questions about what you have learned, creating programs, content creation, and writing lesson plans. 

• Vacations are excused given 1 week notice

Animal Care

• Hands-on animal work requires training and consistency, and it takes time to learn the skills, routines, and safety protocols needed to work independently

• 3 days a week, the same days if possible.  (ex. John comes every mon, wed, fri)

• If you choose Animal Care, you may have the opportunity to work in more than one of the animal programs. 

• This area can include opportunities such as: researching and implementing new enrichment for animals, diet prepping, creating a training plan for an animal, and assist with routine healthcare.

• Vacations are excused given 1 week notice

You may be interested in both Animal Care and Education/Outreach, and that's great! However, due to the short time frame, it is not feasible for our interns to be involved in both areas. Please do your best to choose one of those areas. If you are unsure of which animal care program to choose, you can chat with our Community Engagement Coordinator, Sarah, to help guide you.

Reach out at sarmbruster@eowilsoncenter.org.