OdySea Aquarium

Animal Care Intern

May - August 2019 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

The people and animals I worked with were amazing! The animal care specialist and education specialist employees went out of their way to teach me, and the other interns, the in's and out's of getting a full time job in their field. I was taught with real hands on experience, specialized seminars, and worksheets with goals to help me progress throughout my sixteen weeks working there. They were encouraging and supportive of my individual learning and personal goals.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have lived closer to home and I wish I had been paid.

Advice

Do not give up in applying for internships! I applied for fourteen different positions, and was finally able to secure one. I had an amazing experience and if I had the money I would go back this coming summer and do it again.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Aquarist Intern

May - August 2019 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

I was able to care for animals such as sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, etc. and learn from the pros. It took a lot of hard work, but paid off every time I saw the animals happy and healthy. It was the best summer of my life!

What I wish was different

Advice

If anyone wants to go into the animal care field, start early! Put yourself out there and don't be afraid of failure. You never know what could come your way!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Animal Care Intern

May - August 2019 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

First of all, there is a great team dynamic at this workplace! I always felt like I was learning something new, and had the support to master new skills. A majority of the internship involves preparing specialized diets for the animals, learning the foundation of animal training and behavior, maintaining exhibits (it gets messy, but it's all worth it when you see the animals enjoy their habitat), and of course getting the chance to convey conservation messages to the public. This latter part allowed me to grow in confidence with my public speaking skills, which will certainly come in handy for any career. Another great thing about this internship was the project we were able to conduct at the aquarium. It's not a masters project by any means, but you get to come up with a research topic relevant to the aquarium/ animals in the aquarium. Throughout the course of the internship you conduct your own mini study with the help of team members and resources available to you. This was probably my favorite part of the program in addition to the close animal encounter you get from learning about animal husbandry. Overall, This internship involved a lot of work, but it was all worth it because it perfectly prepared me for a strong foundation in the field of animal care /training.

What I wish was different

nothing

Advice

The first few weeks may seem daunting since you are learning so much so quickly, but you'll get the hang of it. My main piece of advice is to stick with it, and enjoy the opportunity to learn from such experienced team members. Don't be afraid to ask questions about what kind of job/ internship experience these workers have. You'll find they love to share and give advice to help you out-- after all, they were once in your place too. Also, you get plenty of cool encounters with animals, so enjoy every day!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Education and Conservation Intern

May - August 2019 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

This was a very unique and rewarding experience that I would highly recommend to anyone considering it. I learned so much about marine life and conservation, gained public speaking skills and confidence, and learned how to teach children about conservation in a classroom setting. Working directly with the reptiles was so much fun and incredibly interesting. All the staff are super friendly and helpful.

What I wish was different

I wish it had been a paid internship.

Advice

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Animal care volunteer

April 2018 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

I love being able to see the animals up close and learning about the types of behaviors and types of learning the animals care specialists use in order to take care of and enrich the animals.

What I wish was different

Nothing! I love the job.

Advice

Complete any quizzes and actively get clearance on tasks in order to move up as a volunteer.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Conservation education intern

August - December 2017 • Scottsdale, AZ

What I liked

There were a lot of opportunities to work with different animals and gain skills in public speaking and guest relations.

What I wish was different

It became kind of like a job shadowing internship and once we were cleared to work in certain areas we just did those things everyday and didn't expand our knowledge/experience from there.