Amanda Westerlund Email & Phone Number

Gulfport, Ms, Us

Gulfport, Ms, Us

Gulfport, Mississippi, United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Managing/developing new “Pittsburgh First Catch Program,” connecting environmental education experiences of fishing and kayaking with underrepresented individuals in the greater Pittsburgh area to create future wildlife conservationists. • Grant writing, budgeting, and reporting for grant cycles from multiple funding sources totaling over $200,000 • Hiring, interviewing, and managing seasonal staff – support staff in the field • Established new relationships with local communities and supported previous connections • Lesson plan creation for outdoor, classroom, and out-of-school time sites • Conducted over 150 on-site programs with youth, young adults, and adults that taught progressive outdoor skills, environmental knowledge, and outdoor activity safety o Activities include kayaking, fishing, hands-on STEM lessons, and workshops • Trained full-time, volunteer, and seasonal staff in kayaking and ethical fishing • Maintained, purchased, and coordinated equipment for multiple programs daily • Worked in collaboration with PA Fish and Boat Commission • Presented at Pennsylvania Assoc. of Environmental Educators (PAEE) 2023 Conference

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Daily husbandry, training, and enrichment of a variety of species in various sections within the zoo:Tropical Forest Complex – primary keeper for Western lowland gorilla and blue monkey; crossed trained with orangutan, colobus monkey, white cheeked gibbon, spot-nosed monkey, cotton-top tamarin, brown capuchin, ringtailed lemur, black howler, white faced saki, and sloth.Islands – Forest Passage – Jungle Odyssey – crossed trained with clouded leopard, siamang, warty pig, pygmy hippo, ocelot, fossa, Amur tiger, Canada lynx, Caribbean flamingo, African lion, cheetah, Amur leopard.Water’s Edge 6 years– husbandry of polar bear, Northern sea otter, elephant seal, and California sea lion• Developed and implemented new operant conditioning training program for 4.2 Western lowland gorilla and 1.2 blue monkey• Previous Internship Coordinator at Water’s Edge; redesigned programo Created progressive program with advancement goals and helped interns achieve them in a 13-week programConducted orientations, interviews, responded to applicants, communicated deadlines, collected paperwork for human resources
o Responsible for intern training in zoo/department protocolso Developed zoo website description and promoted program to outside organizations through job hiring boards• Trained and managed seasonal staff in department protocols, scuba diving, enrichment, and animal training• Assisted with polar bear transports and medical procedures via anesthesia• Trained and performed medical behaviors (such as intramuscular injections) for polar bear, elephant seal, sea lion, sea otters, and gorilla• Skilled PADI certified open water diver and full face mask trained; managed volunteer dives via Volgistics• Presented at numerous AAZK and IMATA conferences/regionals• Cross trained with LSS for operation and maintenance

United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | Pittsburgh, PA | May 2014 – September 2014• Trained new interns on protocols for diets, enrichment, and guest interactions• Assisted keepers with daily routine for polar bear, sea otter, sand tiger sharks, and elephant seal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

• Amphitheater presentations with small mammals, reptiles, and birds of prey• Trained new staff in protocols, set up, and lock up procedures

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Becoming a Tiger: Social Behaviors of Amur Tigers