2017 Sustainability Internship

Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Conservation Department

Description of Internship

  • This sustainability internship opportunity focuses on waste management and education on an organization-wide scale. While working with our Environmental Coordinator and the Conservation Department here at Utah’s Hogle Zoo you will assist in understanding and developing a waste lifecycle for general operations, greenhouse gas emission metrics, and ways to better improve both in-house education with staff and general education outreach with guests of the Zoo in terms of waste cycles and reduction.

Supervision

  • Intern will be supervised by Michelle Brown, Environmental Coordinator for Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Proposed Schedule

  • 12-week period
  • Total of 200 – 400 hours during the duration of the internship
  • Monday – Friday, some Saturdays and Sundays
  • Hours worked per day are flexible due to the nature of the internship (weekend events, night events, and weekend events)

Applicant Requirements

  • Applicant must be 21 years old or older
  • Intern must have completed at least one full year of college credits.
  • Candidates must provide proof of current negative TB test and tetanus shot.
  • Applicants must pass a drug and alcohol test and a background check.
  • Applicant must be able to stand for at least 3 hours
  • Applicant must be able to lift 50 lbs.
  • Waste audits are a part of this internship, so the applicant must be okay handling waste

Internship Requirements

  • Intern completes 200 – 400 hours over a 10-week period
  • Intern Project: Complete waste data analysis
  • Journal: each intern must keep a daily journal to be shared with their supervisor and mentor.
  • Presentation: Interns will prepare a 15 – 20 minute presentation at the end of the summer. This presentation will be shared with other interns and Zoo staff.

Pay

  • This is an unpaid internship.

College Credits

  • Utah’s Hogle Zoo is unable to award any college credits. The institution that the student attends will decide the credit, if any, and any additional academic requirements that must be completed during the student’s internship. Utah’s Hogle Zoo is willing to work with the different higher learning institutions with regards to completing scholastic requirements during the student’s internship.

Tasks

  • Waste Audits of:
  • Private Events held at or by Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
  • Food areas accessible to the public.
  • Animal Care Areas
  • In preparation for becoming a participating member of the anaerobic digester facility that will be in operation in 2018.
  • Waste Data Analysis
  • Using excel, develop an overview of waste streams here at the Zoo and rates, as well as causes, of contamination.
  • Public Education
  • Increase guest awareness of recycling efforts we have going on currently at the Zoo.
  • Development of new written recycling materials for both staff and general Zoo guests.
  • Research Opportunities
  • Research new recycling opportunities available to the Zoo both local and nationally.
  • Waste design
  • Green Team Shadowing
  • Shadow our Green Team members throughout the Zoo and see possible waste streams in their area or job activities that we could improve upon or eliminate.
  • Attend Green Team meetings to see how we work together in order to push sustainable initiatives throughout our institution.
  • Waste Design for Zoo Rendezvous 2017
  • Develop effective waste design for anniversary fundraiser event to decrease amount contamination and increase diversion rates.

Deadline Overview

  • Complete 10 waste audits of private events by August 1st.
  • Complete waste audits of food areas accessible to the public by July 7th
  • Complete waste data analysis 1 week previous to end of internship.
  • Public Education printed materials finalized and published on grounds by June 5th

Certifications Provided

  • Intern will take the Master Recyclers course provided through the City of Salt Lake.
  • May - June
  • Tuesdays 4 – 6 pm

Additional Educational Opportunities

  • Attend UHZ Green Team Meetings
  • Attend Intern Meetings
  • Green Team Member area tours
  • Join the Green Brigade members at off-site volunteer opportunities:
  • Craft Lake City Festival
  • August 11th – 13th
  • Humane Society of Utah Beer Festival
  • TBD in August
  • Host one of our Environmental Film Series movies
  • Educational opportunity for staff to learn about conservation and sustainability activities going on around the globe.

Internship Takeaways

  • By the completion of their internship all interns will have an understanding of the role the following play in Zoo culture:
  • Conservation: Intern will learn how modern zoos support and encourage conservation. They will learn about habitat loss, over-population and the many in-situ conservation projects supported by Utah’s Hogle Zoo. They will learn about how sustainability action is the base for long-term success for wildlife conservation. This includes continuation of education for staff with our Green Team, recycle and waste management education and monitoring, and sustainability technologies that can be implemented to improve our positive environmental impact.
  • Public Interaction: Intern must become knowledgeable on collection natural history and facts regarding the Zoo and its programming. Intern may be asked to interact with the public.
  • Continuing Education: Zoo regulations, protocols, conservation, behavior and training, education, veterinary medicine and terms will be discussed in weekly classes and interns will be required to do occasional quizzes.

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