Wildlife Operations Intern (Summer 2027)

Nemacolin•Wharton Township, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Build hands-on expertise in wildlife care, animal training, guest education, and conservation at Nemacolin. As a Wildlife Operations Intern, you will work alongside experienced wildlife coordinators while gaining practical experience caring for an extraordinary collection of animals and creating meaningful guest connections with wildlife. This paid, 12-week internship offers exposure to animal care, enrichment, habitat management, guest programming, and wildlife operations while giving you the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and explore a future in animal science, wildlife management, zoology, conservation, or related fields.

Requirements

High school diploma required
Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor’s degree program in wildlife, animal science, or a related discipline
Fluency in English required
Ability to work varied hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on animal and resort operations
Ability to adhere to established appearance standards
Commitment to completing a consecutive 12-week internship

Nice To Haves

Previous animal care experience preferred

Responsibilities

Provide exceptional animal care through daily feeding, specialized diet preparation, enrichment, training, observation, and basic medical support.
Create meaningful guest connections through Animal Ambassador Encounters, Guided Wildlife Tours, trail rides, pony rides, and engaging education about animals, habitats, and conservation.
Maintain healthy, well-maintained habitats through enclosure cleaning, barn and facility upkeep, animal organization, and hands-on care such as clipping and bathing.
Ensure continuity of care through accurate animal records and consistent adherence to established care practices and protocols.
Support safe, seamless wildlife operations through tour and trail-ride scheduling, transportation support, and attentive assistance with horse mounting and dismounting.
Make a practical contribution to animal care or enrichment through an experiential project involving research, written work, and the development of a training plan, enrichment item, or habitat improvement.
Gain a broader understanding of professional wildlife operations through training workshops, departmental initiatives, and exposure to the many disciplines behind animal care and guest experiences.