What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sea Turtle Care Center Summer Internship, Unpaid position at SC Aquarium Volunteer?
Sea Turtle Care Center Summer Internship
5 months)
Application Instructions and Key Dates
- Internship duration : April 1, 2025-August 31, 2025
Start and end date are slightly flexible
Description
Sea Turtle Care Center Interns have the opportunity to learn about and participate in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native sea turtle species. Interns will assist staff in all aspects of the daily care of sick and injured sea turtles, occasional medical procedures, and educational programs. The overall goal of our internship program is to help interns learn the ins and outs of sea turtle rehabilitation in order to help them prepare for a career in the field.
Learning Objectives
Primary Duties
Become familiar with AZA animal care and welfare standards
Develop and perform basic animal husbandry skills
Learn and maintain water quality and life support systems
Obtain basic medical skills while assisting with the medical care of rehab patients
Perform general patient care : feedings, tank maintenance, and water changes
Maintain general cleanliness and inventory of hospital and supplies
Assist with medical procedures
Detailed record keeping
Assist in miscellaneous projects as needed
Perform informal and formal educational programs related to the Sea Turtle Care Center
Summer Season Specifications
The Sea Turtle Care Center is the only sea turtle hospital in the state of South Carolina. Summer is our busiest season in terms of strandings. While we cannot guarantee a certain number of strandings, we do receive a higher number of local strandings from the months of May-August. This internship will provide the opportunity to learn how to thrive in a fast-paced environment while caring for a potentially larger number of patients. During the summer months we see a wider array of injuries and illnesses. There is also the potential to participate in local sea turtle releases.
Commitment & Qualifications
Length of internship : 5 months
Hours per week : 32-40 hours on average. Will require flexible hours such as long days, weekend shifts, occasional late night / early morning work.
Education level : Recent college graduate or college senior with a background in biology, zoology, animal science, or related field.
Necessary Additional Skills
Physical Requirements
Often requires walking, standing, and bending. Regularly requires stooping, crouching, climbing ladders / steps, carrying up to 50 lbs., sitting, kneeling, pushing / pulling, working with tools and working in tight spaces.
Compensation & Benefits
Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to provide compensation or housing. We know how difficult it is to commit to an unpaid internship, but we try our best to incorporate as many learning opportunities as possible and to work with you. Our desired schedule is working four days with three consecutive days off.
We offer professional development workshops in order to help you become a more competitive job candidate.
Ability to earn a reciprocity pass to local attractions and aquarium tickets.
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