Job Shadow Requests
Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate students for Job Shadow experiences at our facility. However, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium offers several resources for students interested in animal care careers. Some of these programs may meet some or all of the job shadow for your school. These programs include:- Career Discovery programs scheduled throughout the year. Click here for more information. Please note: Financial Aid is now available for these programs.
- Student Interviews with one of our zookeepers, educators or animal health care staff.
- Our annual Career Day event in November.
- Our Summer Youth Volunteer Team. Click here for more information. The application deadline for this summer is January 30th!
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Washington typically offers their Career Day in March. You are required to register for this all-day event. Click here for registration information.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium hosts an annual Career Day each November, for 6th grade through College students interested in learning working with animals in a zoo or aquarium facility. This event includes FREE admission for middle school, high school and college students. Students under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone. Younger siblings must also pay the regular admission rate.
At Career Day, students can observe special animal presentations, find out how our staff built their zoo careers, pick up free information and participate in other zoological career related activities throughout the day.
Zoo Career Day 2010 will be held on Saturday, November 13th.
Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. The Zoo closes at 4 p.m. Most activities and presentations take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Click here to download a 2010 Career Day Flyer.
Click here to see the Career Day Schedule for last year's event. (Please note: When working with animals, activities and times are subject to change.)
Click here to see a draft of the Career Day Map for last year's event.
Check back here at the end of October to see the schedule and map for Career Day 2010.
Our Internship Program is open to currently enrolled or recently graduated college or university students. Click here for more information or to download an application packet.
Visit the websites below for Zoo Career information:
Great for reports, job shadowing requirements and school newspapers! Interviews are generally 15 minutes long, and may be conducted over the phone or here at the Zoo.
Our staff are very busy and may have limited time during which to grant interviews, so we recommend that you make your request well in advance of your deadline. Please contact the Education Department at (253) 404-3666 to request an interview.
6th-12th Grade Teachers! We offer Zoological Careers programs both at the zoo or at your school. Call 253-591-5333 for more information or to register. Click here to find out more about field trip and outreach programs available for schools.
