EDUCATION DEPARTMENT JOB ANNOUNCMENT
Position: Education Staff; Zoo Explorer Staff
Reports To: Zoo Explorer Coordinator and Education Manager
Schedule: Three to Four days, 24 hours per week. Zoo Explorers are on site Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3-5:30.
The Zoo Explorer program is funded by a 21st Century Learning Grant. It involves students in grades K-6th and enrolled in afterschool program at their school. The program allows them to have additional educational experiences beyond the regular school day here at the Zoo and in the afterschool program. The program has three major goals including: improving FCAT performance and overall physical fitness of students, and improving literacy level of family members and caregivers
Responsibilities:
• Assists Zoo Explorer Coordinator with the development of curriculum, master calendar, and schedule
• Plans and develops after-school Zoo activities focusing on math and science
• Provides enjoyable Zoo activities in a safe and secure environment
• Assists in the development and implement of Zoo Family Days
• Attends scheduled meetings
• Conducts on-site and off-site education programs
• Contributes to the development of education programs
• Plans and organizes daily work routine
• Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology
• Enforces park rules and regulations and initiates a quick response if required
• Interacts with general public by answering questions, conducting guided tours, and making public appearances on behalf of the Zoo
Qualifications:
• Bachelors degree in education, science or related field preferred
• Teaching experience in formal or informal settings preferred
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills required
• Ability to speak intelligently and diplomatically with the public
• Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Enthusiastic team attitude
• Dedication, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic required
Please submit Zoo application, resume and references to Human Resources at 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940 or fax 321.259.5966
VETERINARY EXTERNSHIP
Brevard Zoo is pleased to offer a 2- to 8-week externship available to senior veterinary students and vet tech students. Our Zoo, with a diverse collection of more than 500 animals representing more than 165 species, has full-time veterinary staff. Brevard Zoo is well known for its strong conservation ethics; unique attractions such as on-site wetlands kayaking; a giraffe feeding platform for guests; and, its regular use of operant conditioning and open-minded use of alternative therapies presents interesting challenges for the student. The veterinary department has basic laboratory equipment, isofluorane anesthesia, rigid endoscopy, remote chemical immobilization equipment, radiological equipment and separate quarantine facilities.
Our educational goal is to provide the student with a broad base of experiences pertaining to the zoo field, which encompasses more than just treating and medicating animals in the collection. The extern will accompany the veterinarian and participate in daily activities (which may even include husbandry and maintenance work), assist with routine procedures and preventative medicine protocols. There will be opportunities to participate in operant conditioning of selected species. The extern will also assist with the daily care, cleaning and feeding of hospitalized patients and animals in quarantine, medicating those animals which require treatment as well as performing routine laboratory procedures. Optionally, one week can be spent shadowing keepers, one day for each “run”- Florida, Contact Yard/Education, Latin America-“La Selva”, Africa and Australasia. The student will attend collection plan meetings, keeper update meetings, full staff meetings and informal rounds. The student has the option, time permitting, to research one aspect of zoo medicine, nutrition, or husbandry and prepare a 30-45 minute presentation to be given at the keepers’ meeting or brown bag lunch.
Externs also have the opportunity to spend time at the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Melbourne (20-minute drive) or the Folke Petersen Center for Animal Welfare in Palm Beach (80-minute drive), both state-of-the-art wildlife rehabilitation hospitals where the extern will have a more liberal hands-on medical experience with native species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
At this time there are no housing, board or stipend provisions. The Florida Wildlife Hospital has seasonally available housing for $90 per week to cover consumable costs. Please send a letter of interest, resume, and a letter from one faculty member indicating interest level. There is no deadline, but the slots are first-come, first-served, only one extern present per session please.
Class Standing: Senior, with externships completed in large and small animal (and exotic if available) medicine and surgery, radiology, and anesthesia.
Dress Code: Scrub shirts, shorts (must be at least half way down thigh) or pants, closed-toed (and preferably waterproof) shoes and bring rubber boots/raincoat during rainy season. No heavy perfumes or excessively dangling jewelry please.
Misc: Extern needs to have neg TB within past 6 months, current rabies and tetanus vaccination, must have own insurance and sign waiver of liability.
Please send to Beth Nasse, RVT, at Brevard Zoo, 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940.
