Animal Care Apprenticeship
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Animal Care Apprenticeship . .
WELCOME: Whether it is your first time being with reptiles, or you are a seasoned Tree Frog veteran, we are so happy to have your enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity with us here at Frog Hall.
At Tree Frog Treks we love to share what we know so the world can grow!
Registration opens 8/9/2024 at 8 am pst. limited spaces.
Program Description: Animal Care Apprenticeship for the Fall 2024 season is a 11 week program that we are continuing this year! Our Animal Care Director Sam will be walking participants through what it takes to care for a vast array of reptiles and amphibians with the hopes to educate about the ins and outs of running the facility and fueling our programs. Your participant will receive hands-on training in animal husbandry and everything that comes with it & of course, some quality time with our Tree Frog Treks animal ambassadors.
Our hope is that with every exciting encounter, kids and adults alike will work even harder to save, preserve and maintain our home and all its inhabitants. It's an experience no one ever forgets!
Photos courtesy of Gayle Laird
What We Expect From You:
Drop off/Pickup: Drop off hours begin at 3:00pm. Participants are welcome to drop in at any time after 3:00pm to join programming. It is not necessary to come in with your participant for drop-off but visitors are always welcome to stay and look around.
Please pick up your child no later than 5:00 PM.
Program Details:
Attendance for every session is not mandatory, but missed sessions cannot be rolled over/made up for another time.
Frog Hall Behavior/Norms: It is a HUGE privilege to hang out at Frog Hall with the animals. We ask all of our visitors to keep both their bodies and voices at a reasonably low and respectful level- to reduce stress for all of its inhabitants: humans and animals alike! There are also several delicate sections of this space (glass, wires, specimens) that we work hard to keep safe, intact, and functioning..
Of course, we always have our universal expectation of respecting ourselves, our friends, and the animals.
What You Can Expect From Us:
At Tree Frog Treks, the Animal Care Internship offers an incredible opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of animals, but it also comes with real-world responsibilities. While caring for our animals is rewarding, it’s important to understand that animal care can be hands-on and sometimes messy. Routine tasks such as cleaning enclosures, picking up waste, and maintaining a healthy environment are just as essential as the more engaging aspects like handling and interacting with the animals.
Interns will not only gain invaluable animal care experience but will also develop key skills such as teaching other kids (or adults), being responsible for the animals, and interacting with the public. A highlight of the internship is participating in our "Frog Mobs," where we take our Animal Ambassadors to local parks (such as Holly Park, Glen Canyon, and Golden Gate Park) to engage with both children and adults, fostering curiosity and education about the natural world. These outings help interns sharpen their public speaking and teaching skills as they interact with the community, making the experience both educational and enriching for everyone involved.
Though it requires dedication and hard work, this internship provides a well-rounded experience in animal care while equipping you with transferable skills that extend far beyond the world of wildlife.
Completion of this program will result in an Animal Care Apprenticeship Certification with a total of your hours worked: this can be referenced on college or job applications in the future as animal care hours or even just volunteering hours.
Tasks will include:
Maintenance of enclosures
Dealing with poop
Taking animals out and about - "enrichment” at local SF Parks
Local outreach/education
Gathering materials for enclosures on treks
Filling/cleaning water bowls
Feeding animals
Giving baths to animals
Upgrading/creating enclosures
Managing specimens
General cleanup/dishes
2024 DROP IN DAYS/HOURS:
Wednesdays 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
9/11
9/18
9/25
10/2
10/9
10/16
10/23
10/30
11/6
11/13
11/20
Mondays 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
9/9
9/16
9/23
9/30
10/7
*no meeting 10/14
10/21
10/28
11/4
*no meeting 11/11
11/18
AGE REQUIREMENT: For our Fall session we will be offering this program for Grades 4th-8th.
Price for session:
$20/day
$400 for full session