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Dolphin Research
center is a not-for-profit education and research facility
that is home to a colony of bottlenose
dolphins and sea lions. Located in the heart of
the Florida
Keys on Grassy Key, our animals live in a
natural environment in the Florida Bay. Since establishment
in 1984, Dolphin Research Center remains dedicated
to teaching, learning, and caring for marine mammals
and the environment we share. We accomplish this through
a variety of public education programs and non-invasive
research projects, and by active involvement with the
marine mammal care community throughout the world.
Internships at DRC
are an exciting way to develop career skills as well
as an opportunity to get "behind
the scenes" to see how a marine
mammal facility operates. Dolphin Research
Center internships involve concentration in specific
departments and normally last 16 to 18 weeks. Interns
work forty hours per week typically spending four days
per week in their internship’s department and
one day providing support in other areas of daily operations
through the Volunteer Resources Pool.
We welcome interns from around the world but it is
necessary that you read, speak and understand English,
are physically fit, able to lift 50 pounds and can
work outside in the Florida Keys heat, sunshine and
humidity. All interns are responsible for their own
housing, food and local transportation. Bear in mind
that this area is a tourist destination and the cost
of accommodations varies depending on the season.
We currently offer internships in the following areas:
Animal Care and Training, Education, Research, and
Visual Communications for all three sessions. Special
Needs including the Dolphin Pathways Program takes
an intern during the Fall Session only. All positions
are unpaid.
In addition to the day-to-day responsibilities in
their departments, all interns are required to keep
a daily journal of activities and to develop and attain
specific learning objectives relative to their areas
of interest or study focus. These learning objectives
or goals are to be conducted on your own time. Through
weekly meetings, your coach will review your journal
and help you develop and attain specific learning objectives.
Your coach and the Volunteer Resources staff will
work with you and your faculty advisor if you are pursuing
credit for your work here or need to fulfill community
service.
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ANIMAL
CARE AND TRAINING: |
The Animal
Care and Training Intern position provides support
to the Animal Care and Training staff in all aspects
of daily care. By assisting with basics such as diet
preparation and maintenance of the food preparation
facility (fish house) you will begin to the build
the foundation for a career in animal care. Although
this position does not involve working hands-on with
the dolphins, you will have an opportunity to shadow
our trainers as they go about their daily duties
and to observe both husbandry and training sessions.
This position is offered for all three sessions. NOTE:
performing daily animal
training sessions is not a part of this position.
This support position to our animal care and training
staff may involve:
- assisting the trainers during dolphin training
sessions
- assisting trainers with supplemental hydration
sessions
- repairing and maintaining training equipment
- preparing food for our animals
- stocking and inventorying food and husbandry supplies
- assisting with fish deliveries
- training and supervising other volunteers with
fish house maintenance
In addition, all interns provide regular support
to all areas of operations through crossover to other
departments and by weekly participation in the Resource
Pool.
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Research interns
participate in DRC's ongoing
behavioral and cognitive research projects,
giving them broad exposure to a variety of research
methodologies. Interns receive extensive on the job
training in observing marine
mammal, behavior, collecting observational data,
working with research equipment, and assisting with
cognitive research sessions. This position is offered
in all three sessions. Note: conducting
your own research projects is not part of this position.
Specific job duties include:
- collecting observational behavioral data
- set-up and breakdown of equipment for cognitive
research sessions
- assisting trainers for cognitive research sessions
(presenting stimuli, note-taking)
- operating video equipment
- entering data into the computer for analysis
- equipment maintenance
In addition, all interns provide regular support
to all areas of operations through crossover to other
departments and by weekly participation in the Resource
Pool.
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An internship in the Education Department is a comprehensive,
well-rounded experience. The goal of the Education
Internship is to help you begin to build a foundation
for a career in marine education and/or working with
marine mammals. Our education programs have enormous
potential to influence public attitudes and actions
and to directly affect the health and well-being of
the environment. We accomplish this through a variety
of programs from narrations during dolphin sessions
to our 7-day DolphinLabs. Education interns have the
opportunity to observe college accredited seminars
and have access to a vast library of professional journal
articles on a broad range of topics as well as to updates
on global marine mammal issues.
Education interns build public speaking skills and
interact daily with domestic as well as international
visitors of all ages. While Education interns do not
work directly with our dolphins, there is ample opportunity
to talk directly with the public by conducting 20-minute
workshops and informally answering questions.
Responsibilities vary depending on the program schedule
during your internship. Specific job duties may include
(but are not limited to):
- Observing and presenting public educational programs
- Answering questions from guests on the grounds
or responding to electronic requests for information
- Accompanying department staff members and assisting
at outreach events at schools and/or environmental
events
- Assisting with DolphinLab by
conducting hands-on learning activities, escorting
participants during their observation time
and/or answering questions from students interested
in future internships
- Assisting Education staff members in copying the
daily schedule and preparing the public schedule
board
- Assisting with library research and maintenance
- Assisting with idea
generation and/or curriculum development
for public educational programs and DolphinLab
Your coach will work with you weekly to design your
schedule. In addition to daily tasks and projects,
you will need to set specific goals for your internship
that will both benefit the Education Department and
enhance your experience. You will complete various
assigned reading, view specific seminars, and maintain
a daily journal.
In addition, all interns provide regular support
to all areas of operations through crossover to other
departments and by weekly participation in the Resource
Pool.
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The goal of the Visual
Communications Intern is to support and assist the
Visual Communications (“VisComm”)
staff. Using your knowledge of digital photography
and videography as a Visual Communications Department
Intern, you will have the opportunity to work outdoors
around the water, interact with guests and watch dolphins
at play while photographing program participants to
provide lasting memories of their experiences. This
is a team department and as an intern, using your still
and video editing skills, you will assist on projects
working closely with VisComm staff members and co-workers
from other departments.
Working knowledge of Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative
Suite software is essential.
Each intern is asked to
bring his vision and creativity forward with his
individual goals. Department computers may be used
when available. Depending on the individual’s
interest or skill set these may be still photography,
video, design project or a mix of all media.
Primary responsibilities of
this position are:
- Taking candid digital still photos of guests and
dolphins during public programs
- Working directly with guests to select and process
print and/or digital photos
Other opportunities may include:
- All phases of video
production from capturing
to editing
- Organizing, scanning, and storing digital images
of archived photos, slides and VHS tapes
- Creating on-site informational and directional
signage
VisComm Interns do not work directly with the dolphins
but will be around them throughout the day as they
interact with trainers, other departments and the general
public.
Note: All
images/products produced through this internship will
remain the sole property of DRC. Any
images taken with your own equipment are for your personal
use and not to be sold or published. This position
is offered in all three sessions.
In addition All
interns also provide regular support to all areas
of operations through crossover to other departments
and by weekly participation in the Resource Pool.
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Special
Needs: Offered for the fall session only |
This
position is a support role to our Special
Needs and Dolphin Pathways Program staff.
It may involve: preparing, repairing and maintaining
session equipment, assisting program participants and
their families, recording session notes and maintaining
session records, preparing program participant folders,
and handling information requests and other correspondence. Note: Working
directly with the dolphins and in-water assistance
are not part of this position.
In addition, all interns provide regular support
to all areas of operations through crossover to other
departments and by weekly participation in the Resource
Pool.
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To apply for
an internship position, complete and send us the
Volunteer Application including Section B and all
other supporting information described in the intern
application section. Click here to
download an application from our website. You may answer
the four questions in Section C on a separate piece
of paper and submit it with your application.
The application package must include the completed
form, a current resume, transcript and two letters
of recommendation. It is not necessary that all be
sent together.
Transcripts may be unofficial unless you are seeking
credit for your internship. If so your transcript must
be an official copy and one of your letters of recommendation
must be from a faculty advisor. Letters of recommendation
must have an original signature. If printed on plain
paper or unsigned it will not be accepted.
We do not accept applications for less than a twelve
week duration and preference may be given to those
who give a sixteen week commitment.
Applications may not be
submitted on-line. You may send the application and
supporting documentation by fax to the attention
of Volunteer Resources, 305-743-7627 or by regular
mail:
Mail to:
Dolphin Research Center
Attn: Volunteer Resource Dept.
58901 Overseas Highway
Grassy Key, FL 33050 USA
You may send any additional information that you
feel would be beneficial to us in processing your application.
On the application be sure to note which intern position(s)
you wish to apply for in preferential order. You may
apply for more than one position on the same application.
The number of intern positions is very limited. Once
received, intern applications are given to department
coaches for review and selection. Telephone interviews
are conducted with finalists. Selections are usually
completed two months prior to the starting month of
each term. The actual start and end dates for the internship
are arranged with the coach at the time of acceptance.
We keep these dates flexible to meet varying schedules
of schools and activities. Applications and all additional
material must be RECEIVED by DRC no later than the
following:
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OCTOBER 1 for
the Winter Term (January through April)
FEBRUARY 1 for the Summer Term
(May through August)
JUNE 1 for the Fall Term (September
through December)
If you have additional
questions regarding internship opportunities with
DRC, please send us an e-mail at drc-vr@dolphins.org or
telephone 305/289-1121 x 230 Monday – Friday
9AM to 4 PM (Eastern Time).
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