Jobs
There are no job openings at this time.
Internships
Great Lakes Aquarium offers internships in Education, Marketing and Animal Care.
Education Internships are available at different times of the year.
- The summer programs internship supports the intern in assisting with the development, coordination and the execution of summer programs that may include offerings for preschool, kindergarten, school age children or scouts. Available May-August.
- The Whirligigs internship strengthens pre-service educators’ abilities in working with children aged 3-5. The intern works closely with aquarium staff to assist in providing environment based play opportunities for young children.
For more information about specific internships please contact:
Education Department: Sarah Erickson at 218-740-2007 or serickson@glaquarium.org
The following marketing internships are available:
Social Media – Assist the communications director with maintaining and growing the Aquarium’s social media presence.
Marketing/PR – Assist the communications director and other staff in communicating Aquarium opportunities and achievements to the public.
For more information please contact: Mary Zimmermann at 218-740-2014 or mzimmermann@glaquarium.org
The following Animal Care internships are also available:
Enrichment Internship
3 days per week, minimum two hours per day, times of the day are flexible
Description: The enrichment internship consists of filling out all enrichment plan questionnaires, coming up with new enrichment ideas for all species, creating all approved enrichments, giving (or having staff give) to animals, and completing an enrichment observation form for every species and every enrichment item. Each intern will complete one new enrichment item per animal each week. Each intern will also have one species that he or she is specifically focused on (or genus or family) to focus on.
Intern will be required to familiarize themselves with enrichment theory and methods through online forums, journal articles and training.
Water Quality Internship
2-3 days per week, about 6-8 hours total, weekly. Flexible times and days per week.
Description: The water quality intern completes ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH and dissolved oxygen tests on all systems. The intern will enter into a computer spreadsheet and complete graphs/reports for each system.
Animal Care Internship
3-4 days per week, 7:30- 11:30 am, set schedule
Description: Intern will learn to prepare and distribute diets (fish, otters, rats, amphibians, reptiles, birds. They will also prepare enrichment for otters (possibly more species) clean and disinfect exhibits, scrub and power wash exhibits, clean filters, learn daily/weekly maintenance of a fish system. The intern will learn the basic components of the animal care job at the Great Lakes Aquarium. They will prepare a specific project (chosen by the student and the coordinator together) that is a learning experience for the intern and beneficial to the Great Lakes Aquarium, so that it can be used in the future by other interns or staff.
Animal Care and Aquarist Training Weekend Internship
4 days per week, 7:30 – 2:30 Saturday and Sunday, and two other flexible days and times
Description: Help the animal care staff with weekend duties. Get hands on experience dealing with Aquarist type issues. Internship includes, but is not limited to: Learn to prepare and distribute diets (fish, otters, rats, amphibians, reptiles, birds). Prepare enrichment for otters (possibly more species) clean and disinfect exhibits, scrub and power wash exhibits, clean filters. Weekend staff assistance.
Interested? Please send a resume and cover letter along with this application to Tara Lieberg, Intern Coordinator, Great Lakes Aquarium, 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802 or tlieberg@glaquarium.org. You may also contact Tara with questions at 218-740-3474 ext. 1050.
Job Shadows
We offer job shadow opportunities in animal care for middle and high school students on a case by case basis. Please call us at 218-740-2007 for available times and opportunities. Please allow at least one week to arrange this experience for yourself or a student.