Wildlife Prairie State Park is a unique 2,000 acre zoological park and botanical park  located in Central Illinois. It  is home to what once was the Illinois Prairie and woodland. The animals are housed in large enclosures to replicate their natural habitats. Wolves, bison, elk, black bears, and cougars roamed or once roamed within Illinois. Rare, threatened, endangered, and common Illinois wild animals can be found within the park. Rare and endangered plant species are being introduced yearly.

Established in 1978, Wildlife Prairie State Park has three purposes: Education, Conservation, and Recreation. Interns will work together with the park staff to insure and enhance these goals.  

Naturalist Intern Duties

The Naturalist Intern will work under the direction of the Intern Supervisor as a member of the Park’s Education Department.

Duties will include: greeting school groups and assisting and conducting with various interpretive programs; presenting daily interpretive programs to the general public; interpretive programs at special functions such as the Heart of Illinois Fair and Kids Now-a-Days; assisting with special events such as Night in the Wild, and Park Day Camps; certain opening and closing procedures; trail monitoring; researching materials and designing bulletin boards; writing a research based article for the Wildlife Prairie State Park members newsletter (currently at almost 3800 copies); completion of a special project to mutual agreement; an afternoon in each of the park’s departments; and any number of  daily and or special activities that fall under the allocation of the education department.     

Interns are also trained in the care and use of raptors, reptiles, amphibians and mammals for educational purposes.

Animal Department Internships are also available. Please indicate on your cover letter for which internship you are applying.

Options
  Session:       Spring               March through May

                     Summer            Mid May through Mid August

                     Fall                  September through November

Eligibility and Qualifications

Open to undergraduates, graduate students, and college graduates. Applicants must have at least two years pursuing a degree in Outdoor/Environmental Education, Parks and Recreation, Biology, Education, or other related field.
Remuneration and Benefits

Interns will receive minimum wage salary, uniform shirts & discounts on food and shop merchandise. On site housing may be available.  


Contact Information:
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 309.676-0998 ext. 6712