Internships

We currently offer two types of internship opportunities, click on one of the links for more information:

Exotic Animal Care Internship Opportunities

Botany/Horticultural Internship Opportunities

Exotic Animal Care Internship Opportunities

Are you a student enrolled in an animal related college curriculum and would like to gain experience in exotic animal care? Peace River Refuge & Ranch is currently accepting applicants for internships at our facility. Candidates must be enrolled in a college curriculum or have completed at least 2 years of of college in degree program or have graduated with a degree in Biology, Animal Psychology, Zoology or other animal related studies.

Working with exotic animals is a very gratifying an unique experience, please read the following before applying.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Our program focuses on the importance of proper management of captive wild animals and does not promote private ownership of exotic animals.
We teach management in a professional manner and our program stresses the importance of proper management of exotic animals in captivity.
This program does not include DIRECT CONTACT with potentially dangerous animals residing at our facility!
DIRECT CONTACT is defined as any physical contact with any animal, including contacts through cage wire (reaching of limbs through fences or cages), etc.
Do not expect to have direct contact with any of our exotic animals!
These animals are NOT PETS. If you are looking for an internship that offers direct contact with animals you should consider an internship working with domestic animals.
Only the Peace River Refuge & Ranch staff is authorized to allow direct or indirect contact and that requires DIRECT SUPERVISION and substantial training and then it will only be for the purposes of veterinary care and proper husbandry.
DIRECT SUPERVISION is defined as in the "physical presence of a staff member".
ANY and ALL VIOLATIONS involving DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTACT with the exotic animals will cause an intern to be the subject of immediate dismissal from the property under escort by security, and/or management or staff.
Due to insurance reasons and the welfare of the animals there are NO exceptions to this policy.
Safety of the animals, management, staff, interns and volunteers always comes first at our facility.
If an exotic animal bites or scratches you, it immediately places the welfare of the animal and our entire facility at risk, so this is no laughing matter and the above rules should be taken seriously.

Internship Objectives:

Gain professional hands-on animal care experience at an exotic animal sanctuary and educational facility.
Provide support to full-time sanctuary staff.
Enhance productivity and efficiency in animal care taking at the sanctuary.

Internship Guidelines:

Minimum age is 18.
Internships are non-stipend, last for a period of a minimum of 4 weeks and up to six months, and require a minimum of 30 hours per week. Students should be able to work a flexible schedule.
Candidates must be enrolled in a college curriculum or have completed at least two years of college (currently enrolled) in a degree program or have graduated with a degree in Biology, Animal Psychology, Zoology, or related field.
One school reference (school contacts/phone numbers, NOT letters) must be submitted with the application.
Two letters of reference including addresses and contact numbers from two individuals not related to you who have known you for over a year submitted at time of application, preferably from volunteer work or other employment.
Must be able to provide proof of a current negative TB test.
In order to participate in activities involving bats, the intern must provide proof of a rabies vaccination.
Hepatitis B, and tetanus vaccinations are recommended.
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds on a routine basis.

Internship Accommodations

Intern lodging will be provided on site and is based on availability. Interns are responsible for transportation on and off the sanctuary premises. At the moment, the intern positions are unpaid, however room and board is provided.

You will be staying in shared living quarters which are basic, but comfortable in small cabins or travel trailers on the sanctuary grounds with water, electricity and air conditioning. Private bathrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities and a full kitchen are available in the main house. Interns must be comfortable with spending quiet evenings in their own company depending on how many volunteers and interns are on the premises at one time.

Meals are home-cooked and most of the cooking and cleanup duties are rotated among participants. Vegetarian or vegan meals are readily available upon request.

Additional Accommodation Information

Room and Board (shared housing on site or nearby - fully furnished, bedding and towels and food provided) TV, DVD, VCR, limited internet access (if you bring your own computer),
Long distance phone service (no international calls) from one line at the sanctuary, Local phone service.
Laundry facilities.
Transportation to shopping several days a week for personal items, etc. as we pick up animal supplies.
Materials, curriculum and training Access to the Chiki hut and picnic tables for campfires and socializing
An experience you will never forget

What We DON'T Provide

Salary or stipend
Personal care items
Funds for entertainment
No Pets allowed
We are very rural – there is no bus service. If you do not bring your own car, you will need to plan on spending quiet evenings at the sanctuary unless there is a group outing planned.
On occasion, there is only one intern on site (in addition to regular staff) – opportunities for socializing may be limited, bring a good book or something to occupy your time off.

Internship Job Description

Interns will be working full-time Mondays through Saturdays, with light duties on Sundays.

All interns will undergo training on safety procedures, crisis management, and the rules of the road involving the care of potentially dangerous animals.

You will be exposed to significant levels of heat and humidity. Initially, the intern will be supervised closely by a staff member or senior volunteer. This supervision may relax as confidence and experience with the routine are gained.

Interns work under direct supervision of the sanctuary staff or senior volunteers. After orientation, students will be required to abide by and follow all rules and procedures set out by management. Non-compliance with the sanctuary rules and procedures will result in immediate program termination.

Students will learn all activities involved with the proper care and handling of exotic animals in captivity and livestock.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Prepare primate and bat food, this includes sorting, cleaning and cutting fruits and vegetables according to strict diet requirements. Distribute food to all primates.
Assist in preparing big cat, omnivore and other carnivore diets and food distribution.
Clean animal habitats, this includes primates, big cats, and any other habitat for animals that reside at the sanctuary.
General cleaning and organizing activities involved with feeding and general care for the animals.
Training on tours given at the sanctuary, during this process, students will learn about the cause of captive wildlife as well as important information of their counterparts in the wild in order to educate the public.
Students will assist with habitat building, learning about captive wildlife safety and caging requirements.
Assist in general grounds maintenance and habitat landscaping.
Assist in general animal enrichment activities thereby learning how to ensure a better quality of life for all animals residing at the sanctuary.
Veterinary students may be asked to assist in administering medications and animal transport if applicable.
Assist in general administrative duties related to animal care and sanctuary procedures and other activities.

Application Process

Students must download the Internship application form provided by the sanctuary below. Once completed the form must be sent by mail or fax with a cover letter answering the following questions:

What are your career goals and how would this internship help you achieve them?
What kind of course work and/or experience do you have that would make you a valuable intern?
In what areas are you most interested in attaining experience through this internship?

DOWNLOAD Internship application, click here.

Email all documents to volunteer@peaceriverrefuge.org or mail to:

Peace River Refuge & Ranch, Inc.

Attn: Intern Department

PO Box 1127

Zolfo Springs FL 33594

Fax: 863-735-0805

The application process will take approximately 30 – 45 days from time of receipt of the completed application.

Botany/Horticultural Internship Opportunities

Peace River Refuge & Ranch is currently accepting applicants for a horticultural internship at our facility. We are looking for undergraduate or graduate level college students wishing to earn course credits for work related to landscaping of exotic animal habitats and the general sanctuary grounds. This internship is specifically geared towards students studying horticulture, botany, urban forestry, landscape construction and maintenance, or landscape architecture.

This internship would involve exposure to garden maintenance, animal enrichment, animal habitat simulation, planning and design, landscape construction, and irrigation installation and repair.

The sanctuary has a vast botanical collection and can provide internship projects related to accessing, labeling, and organizing collection records. Other projects may be available in horticulture education, or landscape architecture. Special projects will be considered upon request if they further the goals of the horticulture section and can be accomplished in the time frame of the internship.

Internship Objectives:

• Gain professional hands-on horticultural experience at an exotic animal sanctuary and educational facility.

• Provide support to full-time sanctuary staff.

• Enhance the overall sanctuary architectural landscape and provide naturalistic and safe habitat designs for the different animal species at the sanctuary.

Internship Guidelines:

• Minimum age is 18.

• Internships are non-stipend, last for a period of up to six months, and require a minimum of 30 hours per week. Students should be able to work a flexible schedule.

• Candidates must be enrolled in a college curriculum OR have completed at least two years of college (currently enrolled) in a degree program OR have graduated with a degree. This internship is specifically geared towards students studying horticulture, botany, urban forestry, landscape construction and maintenance, or landscape architecture or related field.

• Two references (school contacts, not letters) must be submitted with the application.

• Two letters of reference including addresses and contact numbers from two individuals not related to you who have known you for over a year submitted at time of application.

Must be able to provide proof of a current negative TB test. (for the protection of our primates)

• In order to participate in activities involving bats, the intern must provide proof of a rabies vaccination.

• Hepatitis B, and tetanus vaccinations are recommended.

• Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds on a routine basis.

Internship Accommodations

Intern lodging will be provided on site or nearby and is based on availability. Interns are responsible for transportation on and off the sanctuary premises. At the moment, the intern positions are unpaid, however room and board is provided.

You will be staying in shared living quarters which are basic, but comfortable in small cabins or travel trailers on the sanctuary grounds with water, electricity and air conditioning or in a small fully-equipped house near the sanctuary. Private bathrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities and a full kitchen are also available in the main house. Interns must be comfortable with spending quiet evenings in their own company depending on how many volunteers and interns are on the premises at one time.

Meals are home-cooked and most of the cooking and cleanup duties are rotated among participants. Vegetarian or vegan meals are readily available upon request.

Additional Accommodation Information

• Room and Board (shared housing on site or nearby - fully furnished, bedding and towels and food provided) TV, DVD, VCR, internet access via a satellite connection at the sanctuary (if you bring your own computer),

• Long distance phone service (no international calls) from one line at the sanctuary, Local phone service.

• Laundry facilities.

• Transportation to shopping several days a week for personal items, etc. as we pick up animal supplies.

• Materials, curriculum and training Access to the Chiki hut and picnic tables for campfires and socializing

• An experience you will never forget

What We DON'T Provide

• Salary or stipend

• Personal care items

• Funds for entertainment

• No Pets allowed

• We are very rural – there is no bus service. If you do not bring your own car, you will need to plan on spending quiet evenings at the sanctuary unless there is a group outing planned.

• On occasion, there is only one intern on site (in addition to regular staff) – opportunities for socializing may be limited, bring a good book or something to occupy your time off.

Internship Job Description

These internships are specifically designed for students studying horticulture, botany, urban forestry, landscape construction and maintenance, or landscape architecture. The sanctuary staff works closely with animal care staff to provide a naturalistic and safe environment for the sanctuary animal residents and to provide enrichment items and specialized food items for selected species.

Interns will be working Mondays through Saturdays, with light duties on Sundays.

All interns will undergo training on safety procedures, crisis management, and the rules of the road involving the care of potentially dangerous animals.

Horticulture Internships are physically demanding and interns may be subject to a variety of environmental factors. Depending on the nature of the assignment, routine tasks involve frequent bending, stretching, climbing, and lifting. Interns will be required to work outdoors and must, therefore, be able to tolerate extreme weather conditions, including extreme Florida tropical heat, rain and humidity. Interns are also subjected to strong odors, dust, hay, and animal hair/fur/dander. Please take these things into consideration when applying.

Students will learn all activities involved with the proper design and maintenance of habitats for exotic animals in captivity.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

• Our program focuses on the importance of proper management of captive wild animals and does not promote private ownership of exotic animals.

• We teach management in a professional manner and our program stresses the importance of proper management of exotic animals in captivity.

• This program does not include DIRECT CONTACT with potentially dangerous animals residing at our facility!

• DIRECT CONTACT is defined as any physical contact with any animal, including contacts through cage wire (reaching of limbs through fences or cages), etc.

• Do not expect to have direct contact with any of our exotic animals!

• These animals are NOT PETS. If you are looking for an internship that offers direct contact with animals you should consider an internship working with domestic animals.

• Only the Peace River Refuge & Ranch staff is authorized to allow direct or indirect contact and that requires DIRECT SUPERVISION and substantial training and then it will only be for the purposes of veterinary care and proper husbandry.

• DIRECT SUPERVISION is defined as in the "physical presence of a staff member".

• ANY and ALL VIOLATIONS involving DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTACT with the exotic animals will cause an intern to be the subject of immediate dismissal from the property under escort by security, and/or management or staff.

• Due to insurance reasons and the welfare of the animals there are NO exceptions to this policy.

• Safety of the animals, management, staff, interns and volunteers always comes first at our facility.

• If an exotic animal bites or scratches you, it immediately places the welfare of the animal and our entire facility at risk, so this is no laughing matter and the above rules should be taken seriously.