Career Programs for Teens
Weekend Career Workshop Series
Perhaps you know a few teens interested in investigating animal-related careers? Please let them know about our special Saturday Career Workshop Series:
See a Career Workshop video! (2.2 MB WMF file - The file may take a minute to download.)
Who: Teens ages 13-16
When: See below for topics and dates
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Member: $45 per workshop. Non-member: $50 per workshop.
Scholarships are available through Denver Zoo's Red Apple Fund.
Register: Register online.
Call 303-376-4808 with questions.
Topics & Dates:
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper (Animal Husbandry) – October 10, 2009
Understand how zoo keepers and other staff care for animals in captivity. Talk with keepers, tour the zoo, and meet live animals. Plan to get wet and maybe even dirty as you experience what it really takes to care for critters.
Veterinary Health Nut (Animal Health and Nutrition) – November 14, 2009
Veterinarians are just one of the zoo professionals that play a vital role in the care of the animals at the zoo. From the food our animals eat to the care our keepers take in observing animals’ behaviors, come learn from the experts about animal health and nutrition in a zoo.
Tools of the Training Trade (Animal Training) - January 16, 2010
Did you know that all of the lions at the Denver Zoo voluntarily can back their bottoms up to get a shot? This is just one of the hundreds of ways training has changed the lives of our animals. Join us to watch live training sessions and demonstrations, talk to the experts, and learn training techniques you can use on your own pets.
Careers in Wildlife Research – February 13, 2010
Why do some monkeys swing quickly through the trees while others move slow and stealthy? How does the presence or absence of wolves affect a Rocky Mountain ecosystem? These are just two of thousands of research questions asked by professional wildlife biologists. Come join the experts at the Denver Zoo to learn the methods used by investigators, the types of research they conduct and to find out how to go about pursuing a career researching animals.
What Exhibit Designers Do (Exhibit Design) – March 13, 2010
Have you ever wondered what one needs to know to build a state of the art lion exhibit? From understanding the needs of the animals to replicating their wild habitat, from determining the width of a moat to stimulating animals’ natural behaviors, the amount of thought and cooperation that goes into exhibit design is staggering. Come take a peak at the Denver Zoo’s own exhibit design process.
For information about Science Workshops for Teens, click here
Middle School Career Day
Each spring, Denver Zoo hosts a career exploration event for middle school students. At the event, teens and pre-teens have the opportunity to meet and talk with zoo experts to learn what it would be like to work at a zoo. Activities include tours, learning about the importance of animal training and enrichment, and a question and answer session with a panel of experts. Each student will have the opportunity to take home a host of career information, as well as have a chance to win wonderful prizes.
Who: Students grades 6-8 interested in learning about zoo careers
When: 2010 date TBD
Time: Time TBD
Cost: Cost TBD; Scholarships are available through Denver Zoo's Red Apple Fund.
Register: Online
For more information contact 303-376-4808 or registration@denverzoo.org
Middle School Summer Camp
Denver Zoo offers a day camp just for kids who will enter grades 6-8 in the fall. The theme of next summer’s program is yet to be determined.
Who: Students grades 6-8 interested in learning about animals
When: 2010 dates TBD
Schedule: TBD
Cost: TBD
Register: Scholarships are available.
For more information about this or other Denver Zoo Summer Safari Camp programs click here.
High School Career Night
In fall, 2009, Denver Zoo plans to host an event for 9-12th grade students who are interested in exploring whether an animal-related career is right for them. At the event, teens will have the opportunity to meet and talk with animal experts and will learn how to go about pursuing a career in an animal-related field. Activities include behind-the-scenes tours, live animal demonstrations, and information booths. Each student will have the opportunity to take home handfuls of college, internship, volunteer and animal-related career information.
Who: Students grades 9-12 interested in learning about how to pursue a career
in an animal-related field
When: Fall 2009 date to be determined
Time: TBD
Cost: TBD; Scholarships are available through Denver Zoo's Red Apple Fund.
Register: registration is not yet available for this program.
Job Shadowing and High School Internships
Denver Zoo does not currently offer opportunities for Job Shadowing experiences and has limited space for High School Internships. If you need to complete a job shadowing day as a school requirement, please ask your teacher or counselor if one of the above opportunities will qualify. We can also recommend that you visit the zoo and attend several of our daily animal demonstrations, as keepers conducting the presentations often have time for questions after the program conclusion. Times and locations of daily animal demonstrations can be found on the zoo map or at http://www.denverzoo.org/visitors/feedings.asp.
For more information, call the Program Specialist at (303) 376-4955.
Information about Animal-Related Careers
Want to learn more about animal-related careers? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for detailed information about careers working with animals.
Because Denver Zoo is flooded each year with keeper interview requests for students, we have conducted and recorded some keeper interviews ourselves. Click on the links below to learn what it would be like to follow the career path of a zookeeper!
Keeper Interviews:
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