• Length: 240 total hours to be completed within 6 months
• Commitment: 12 hours per week
• Bluebird Pin (50 hours)
• Supervisor: AWARE Animal Care Team
  
• Application Deadline: Rolling- Available year-round

About the Internship

The Enrichment & Habitat Design Internship focuses on creating environments that help wildlife patients behave as they would in the wild. Interns work to transform standard rehabilitation enclosures into naturalistic habitats that encourage animals to climb, forage, hunt, hide, and explore. A large part of this internship involves designing and creating enrichment activities that keep animals mentally stimulated, encourage natural behaviors, and help them practice the survival skills they will need after release. Thoughtful enrichment not only prepares animals for life in the wild — it also improves their overall well-being during rehabilitation. This internship blends creativity, animal behavior, and hands-on building, making it perfect for volunteers who enjoy designing, constructing, and improving spaces while helping wildlife prepare for a successful return to nature.

You do not need any construction or tool experience for this internship. Most enrichment projects are simple and creative rather than technical. They often involve things like using zip ties to attach branches, hanging enrichment items, placing natural materials, or occasionally using a few screws to secure perching or climbing surfaces. This role is much more about creativity and understanding animal behavior than building or construction skills. Volunteers who already enjoy building or crafting are welcome to contribute those skills, but it is absolutely not required.

What You’ll Do

As an Enrichment & Habitat Design Intern, you will assist with:

• Designing and creating enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviors and build survival skills
• Designing and constructing naturalistic habitats for wildlife patients
• Transforming enclosures using species-specific environmental features
• Installing live leafy branching and natural climbing structures
• Creating digging and foraging areas with appropriate substrates
• Design natural furniture such as logs, stumps, and shelters
• Developing species-specific enrichment that promotes natural behaviors
• Maintaining and refreshing habitats to keep environments stimulating and appropriate for rehabilitation

Interns will learn how to tailor enrichment to encourage important natural behaviors such as:

• Foraging and hunting
• Climbing and exploration
• Hiding and nesting
• Digging and burrowing
• Running, flying and physical conditioning

Why Apply?

Thoughtful habitat design and enrichment play a critical role in wildlife rehabilitation. By helping patients practice the behaviors they’ll need in the wild, this internship directly contributes to successful releases. Interns also gain access to an online classroom that teaches you and gives you access to resources on the fundamentals of enrichment, behavior and habitat design. If you enjoy creative projects, animal behavior, and hands-on work that directly benefits wildlife, this internship is a rewarding way to get involved.

How to Apply

To apply, complete the combined internship application below and select this internship among any other(s) you want to be considered for. The combined application allows you to apply for any of AWARE's internships that require previous experience at AWARE. Because these internships are competitive, we strongly encourage applicants to select and rank several internships they are interested in. If you are not selected for your top choice, you may still be considered for other internships you ranked.