Inspired by their nephew sharing stories about the wonderful experiences he had as an intern at the Dallas Zoo, Tim and Thom DeWitt felt compelled to start an endowment to ensure the Zoo’s college internship program would continue to inspire the next generation of conservationists and wildlife heroes for years to come.

Even better – you can help, too! The DeWitt’s have generously offered to match the total donations from friends, family, and the public, up to $25,000. Your contributions, along with the matching funds, will help underwrite the program’s operating costs and allow the program to expand.

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Interns: Working and learning at the Dallas Zoo

As part of the Zoo’s college internship program, students will dedicate 20-40 hours a week to work and learn at the Zoo. But “working and learning” at the Zoo often looks like having up-close encounters with animals, meeting leaders from zoos and conservation organizations from around the world, and coordinating public-facing awareness campaigns to support one of our Protecting the 12 wildlife priorities.

Interns are actively involved in our animal care department, participate in conservation and research efforts, and observe operational and/or administrative functions at the Zoo. Through exposure with teams and positions across the Zoo, the interns learn invaluable professional development skills. We also require students to participate in a service learning and an education project during their internship.

The Dallas Zoo’s mission is Engaging People & Saving Wildlife. The college internship program works in concert with that mission, helping us foster engagement and excitement about the natural world and inspire students to take actions to save species.

Know a college student who might be interested in an internship at the Dallas Zoo? Here’s where they can learn more and apply!