Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium > Teen Career Discovery Programs

Teen Career Discovery Programs

Marine Biologist for a Day - The South Pacific

Spend the day in the South Pacific Aquarium, learning how to identify and feed sharks, prepare food, and all about our coral farm. See what it takes to be a real-life aquarist and meet our Marine Mammal Trainers! Due to the hands-on nature of the course, we limit each session to 5 participants, minimum 3 - please call for availability of specific dates listed.
Ages: 13-17 years old
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

2013 Dates: January 26 / February 16 / March 23 / April 27 / May 18 / July 20 / August 31 / September 21 / October 12 / November 16 / December 14
Fees: $80 for members / $90 for non-members
Dress code: Wear closed-toed shoes. Pull back long hair, and avoid dangling jewelry. Morning snack and lunch (each day) are provided as part of the program.

Marine Biologist for a Day - The North Pacific

Spend the day in the North Pacific Aquarium, learning how the water and animals found right in our own Puget Sound make up our cold-water aquarium. Prepare food, and meet our Giant Octopus and Jellies! Due to the hands-on nature of the course, we limit each session to 5 participants, minimum 3 - please call for availability of specific dates listed.
Note: you do not have to have completed the South Pacific experience to sign up for the North Pacific experience.
Ages: 13-17 years old
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

2013 Dates: January 27 / February 17 / March 24 / April 28 / May 19 / July 21 / September 1 / September 22 / October 13 / November 17 / December 15
Fees: $80 for members / $90 for non-members
Dress code: Prepare for wet, dirty work. Wear closed-toed shoes. Pull back long hair, and avoid dangling jewelry. We will be outside for a bit on Sunday, so prepare for the weather.
Morning snack and lunch (each day) are provided as part of the program.

Keeper for a day and marine biologist for a day can be booked as a family experience as well, by special request. Please call (253) 591-5333 for more information.

Keeper for a Day Level I - Animal Caretaking

In this working program you will clean, scoop poop, and learn how to perform enrichment activities for the animals behind the scenes. These are the things that zookeepers spend a majority of their day doing! Keeper for a Day includes activities in the Rocky Shores, Tundra, and Southeast Asia areas. Due to the hands-on nature of the course, we limit each session to 6 participants, minimum 3 - please call for availability of specific dates listed.
Ages: 13-17 years old
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

2013 Dates: January 12 / February 9 / March 2 / April 13 / May 5 / July 27 / August 24 / September 14 / October 5 / November 2 / December 7
Fees: $80 for members / $90 for non-members
Dress code: Prepare for wet, dirty work! Wear closed-toed shoes (rubber boots recommended). Pull back long hair, and avoid dangling jewelry. We will work mostly outside, so prepare for the weather.
Morning snack and lunch are provided as part of the program.

Keeper For A Day Level II - Animal Nutrition & Enrichment

This exciting teen Career Discovery offering takes place behind the scenes in Wild Wonders! See many of the animals that Zoo visitors rarely get to see as you take the experience to the next level - learn about animal nutrition and enrichment as you personally prepare animal diets and create unique sensory experiences for our animal friends! Due to the hands-on nature of the course, we limit each session to 3 students, minimum 2 - please call for availability of specific dates listed.Note: To attend this program teens must first successfully complete Keeper For A Day Level I. Please call for availability of dates listed.

Ages: 13 - 17 years old
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
2013 Dates: February 2 / March 9 / April 6 / May 25 / September 7 / October 27 / December 21
Fees: $105 members / $115 non-members
Dress Code: As above
Morning snack and lunch are provided as part of the program.

Get Started

Download the Program Participant Form

Please call (253) 591-5333 for registration and additional information.

*Note - Reservations are required due to limited space and are secured only when payment is received. Learn more about our program policies

Cancellation policy: NO refunds are given for cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the first day of camp. For cancellations made more than 14 days prior to first day of program an 80% refund will be given. A 10% administrative fee will be charged for each program session change (program cancellations are not considered session changes - this fee does not apply to cancellations). PDZA reserves the right to cancel any program. In the event that PDZA cancels a program, all program fees will be refunded.