JZ Internship
Internships at the Jackson Zoo are designed to provide training and professional work experience that will help you achieve your academic and professional goals. The Jackson Zoo will provide interns with skills, training and support materials; opportunities to develop personal connections to professionals in your field of interest; hands-on experience that will look great on your résumé; opportunities to develop new skills; a chance to make a difference for endangered species and conservation issues; and a fun and meaningful environment. Join our dedicated team and gain hands-on experience in wildlife conservation, animal care, special events and education. We only offer unpaid internships for college credit. Apply now and embark on an unforgettable journey at the Jackson Zoo!
Work Environment: While performing the duties, the intern frequently works in outside weather conditions. The intern is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, chemicals and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet while in the office, or moderately loud while on Zoo grounds.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this internship, the intern is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. The intern is constantly required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The intern is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and walk. The intern must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
All internships have the same application!
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​Summer (May-August) Application Deadline: April 1st
Fall (September – December) Application Deadline: August 1st
Spring (January – April) Application Deadline: November 1st
ELIGIBILTY & REQUIREMENTS:​
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Applicants must be at least 18 years old and no longer in High School
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Accepted applicants must clear a background check, and drug test
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Applicants must complete the online application and submit all required paperwork
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Applicants must be eligible for work in the U.S.
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Accepted interns must attend orientation and professional development training
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Have at least 15 quarter or semester hours of college credits
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Have professor and/or institution approval for full college credit
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Internship work schedule commitment
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Must be a hard worker, enthusiastic, and willing to learn
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Submission of a negative TB test result is required for interns in Animal Care. If you have been tested within the past six months of your acceptance, you do not need to be retested. However, you must still submit test results.
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Adhere to all rules and regulations executed by the City of Jackson and the Jackson Zoo.
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The Jackson Zoo supplies interns with T-shirts and a nametag. Interns have the option of purchasing additional uniform items at their own expense. Interns are responsible for purchasing khaki pants/shorts and closed-toe shoes/boots.
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Have transportation to and from the zoo
A successful candidate must: 
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Demonstrate good interpersonal communication skills    
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Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills  
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Be able to work well independently and on a team   
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Possess good time management skills 
Be an Intern at the Zoo!
Be sure to read the requirements for application under each individual internship. Applications will not be considered complete until cover letter and resumes have been sent.
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Please Note: Communication, special events, and community engagement interns do not participate in animal husbandry, nor do they have contact with exhibit animals.
Special Events Intern
Help us plan our public and private events for 2025! From large public events, private events, and everything behind the scenes— you’ll take part in creating the FUN here at the Jackson zoo!
All Majors are welcome to apply. As an intern, you’ll be an integral part of our Events Team. Explore all aspects of what it takes to put on an event from setup/tear-down; communicating with staff, volunteers, and event partners and more! You can view the internship description and requirements here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Animal Care
The Jackson Zoo is offering the opportunity to participate in an unpaid internship with our animal department for college credit. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside seasonal animal care staff and gain valuable experience. You can view the internship description and requirements here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Education
The Jackson Zoo Education Internship provides hands-on learning experiences designed to help students acquire knowledge and develop practical skills in a zoological environment. Our goal is to deliver accurate information to the public and raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
Our mission is to inspire awareness, education, preservation, and active participation in the protection of wildlife and their habitats. Through various educational programs and events, we emphasize the significance of wildlife conservation and habitat protection. We also strive to prevent the extinction of endangered species through education.
At the Jackson Zoo, we aim to ignite interest in science and animal care, foster a sense of responsibility, and encourage respect for the environment. By offering a variety of educational resources, we empower our community to become stewards of the environment. You can view the internship description and requirements here. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​Communication Intern
Explore all aspects of what it takes to communicate our mission of “inspiring conservation of animals and the natural world” both internally and externally through graphic design, social media, photo and video, press releases, blog writing, newsletters, marketing, journalism, website management/design and more!
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Click here to see the description and requirements of this amazing internship.
​​Community Engagement & Inclusion Intern
Interested in the work of inclusion in zoos? This is the internship for you!
As an intern, you’ll be working directly with our Equity and Engagement Program Manager in building and strengthening the zoo’s diversity strategies and initiatives for enhancing inclusion and belonging.
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