Internship Program
Our internship program gives students real-world experience in exotic animal care, conservation education, and sanctuary management — with references, academic credit, and a community that will last a lifetime.
Choose Your Focus Area
All tracks include supervised hands-on experience, weekly mentorship sessions, and a final evaluation for academic credit documentation.
Animal Care & Husbandry
Work directly alongside keepers in daily animal care — feeding, enrichment, behavioral observation, and medical monitoring. Interns also serve as tour guides and educators. Ideal for pre-vet, zoology, and animal science students.
Learn More →Outreach, Partnerships & Communications
Support the sanctuary's strategic growth through public relations and brand collaborations. Manage CRM systems, pitch to media outlets, and build relationships with universities. Ideal for business, marketing, and communications students.
Learn More →Digital Media & Content Creation
Capture, film, and edit engaging short-form video and behind-the-scenes content featuring our 240+ animals. Manage social platforms, track performance metrics, and assist with live-streaming initiatives. Ideal for marketing, media, and film students.
Learn More →Nonprofit & Project Management
Support the operational and strategic functions of the sanctuary. This role works closely with leadership on organizational systems, program development, compliance, volunteer management, and internal communications.
Learn More →Grant Writing
Support the sanctuary's fundraising efforts by researching funding opportunities, drafting grant proposals, and helping build sustainable financial support for our conservation mission.
Learn More →Tech & Outreach
A hands-on, mission-driven internship designed for students and recent graduates interested in technology, digital systems, and real-world problem solving within a nonprofit environment. Interns own live systems, not simulated projects.
Learn More →Pre-Veterinary
Designed for students seeking experience in animal care, wildlife health, and veterinary exposure within a sanctuary setting. Husbandry-focused, with situational veterinary shadowing and a social media education component built around animal health.
Learn More →Internship Timeline
A typical semester internship at Chase Sanctuary looks like this:
Orientation & Training
Safety protocols, animal introductions, keeper shadowing, and program overview.
Supervised Hands-On Work
Assigned to your track with daily supervised duties and weekly check-ins with your mentor.
Independent Projects
Lead a defined project in your focus area — an enrichment program, educational curriculum, or research contribution.
Evaluation & Documentation
Written evaluation, academic credit documentation, and formal reference letter if requested.
More Than a Line on Your Resume
Academic Credit
We coordinate with your institution for official course credit documentation.
Strong References
Detailed, personalized reference letters for graduate school or employment applications.
Hands-On Animal Experience
Real, resume-building experience with primates and exotic species — not just observation.
Conservation Network
Introductions to our zoological partner network and conservation professionals.
Internship Application
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. We recommend applying 6–8 weeks before your intended start date.
We respond to all applications within 5–7 business days. All time off must be requested and approved prior to the start of the internship.