Career Day Offers Students an Up-Close Look at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Submitted by Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

Middle and high school students who think they might want to become a zookeeper, marine biologist, zoo veterinarian, or environmental educator won’t want to miss Career Day on Saturday, March 11 at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Career Day activities take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the zoo is offering two new workshops for participating students on Animal Training and Animal Enrichment.

Students who wish to participate must register online in advance. On the day of the event, check-in begins at 9:00 a.m. Participating students in sixth grade through twelfth grade will receive free admission to the zoo that day. Parents and siblings must pay general admission, and can meet with participating students after workshops.

Participants’ schedules will include a morning workshop, a break mid-day with opportunities for students to interact with keepers and take advantage of behind-the-scenes tours, and a second workshop in the afternoon. Students will get the chance to meet staff biologists and hear first-hand what it’s like to be a zookeeper, marine biologist, zoo veterinarian, or environmental educator. They will also have the chance to observe animal enrichment, watch training presentations, and visit some of the zoo’s exhibit areas behind the scenes. Workshops include:

Animal Training Workshop – Students will become familiar with basic training methods, with a focus on positive reinforcement, and find out how training helps keepers provide high quality care for their animals. Students will test their skills by training each other!

Animal Enrichment Workshop – Students will find out why providing animals with enriching items and experiences is an important part of animal care. Students will get creative to come up with ideas for enrichment for a variety of animals.

Advance pre-registration is required for all students, including members. For more information and to register, visit www.pdza.org/career-information. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early to secure your spot. Registration ends at 4 p.m. on March 10^th.

Additional “Keeper for a Day” and “Marine Biologist for a Day” fee-based experiences are listed online and scheduled throughout the year. For more information about Career Discovery programs, visit http://www.pdza.org/teen-career-discovery-programs.