Early Childhood Education Internship - Spring 2025

Early Childhood Education Internship

Early childhood education is a vital component of the Dallas Zoo’s Education Department. It incorporates an onsite licensed nature preschool and other programs. Our early childhood program brings together the tenants of high-quality early childhood education and environmental education, with a focus on connecting young children, ages 0-5 years, to animals and nature for the benefit of both the child and the natural world. The programs operate year-round.

Interns in the early childhood education program will receive training and experience in effective instructional techniques for early childhood environmental education, emergent curriculum development, outcomes-based program evaluation, business and marketing aspects of nature preschools, and customer service in a team-based professional environment.

Early Childhood education interns will connect with classroom and administrative staff, developing skills in instructional and program aspects. Interns will also be responsible for completing a demonstration project on one of the topics outlined above.

The Dallas Zoo College Internship Program provides a learning opportunity for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college/university in the United States. Interns become actively involved in the Zoo’s animal care departments, conservation/research efforts, operations, and/or administrative positions.

Interns work 20-24 hours per week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Each placement is designed to help the intern gain experience related to their education. Most internship positions are unpaid. The Zoo does not provide transportation, housing, or a stipend.

All interns will be required to complete an educational project, participate in at least one service-learning project, and attend professional development sessions designed especially for Dallas Zoo interns.

The Dallas Zoo Volunteer Services Department will work with students/schools to document internship experience needed to gain university/college credit.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be available 24 hours per week for up to 12 weeks (dependent on area) including holidays and weekends
• Flexible, self-motivated and a team player
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees, and zoo guests
• Have good observational skills
• Able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, pull, bend, climb stairs and ladders, carry up to 50lbs, and actively work in inclement weather
• Have a valid US driver’s license with reliable transportation
• Must be otherwise eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of the internship
• Pass a background check
• Provide a current negative TB test prior to the internship start date
• Have some computer knowledge
• Bilingual beneficial