Stephanie Nelson Email & Phone Number

Bloomfield Hills, Mi

Presenting various education programs for a variety of different ages. Topics include animal science, animal care, botany, genetics, and general biology. The programs take place at the education farm and also traveling to schools in the area, bringing animals with us in order to present to the children.

Interacting with people of all ages while dressed as a zoo animal mascot. This includes being in costume outside in the summer, which takes a lot of physical endurance. It involves knowing how and when to interact with each guest that comes to the zoo and giving them the best possible experience. This job really taught me how to work on a team, where all members work as a cohesive unit. It has also helped me learn the ins-and-outs of working in a zoo environment. I also help out with organizing and running special events at the zoo.

Providing loving care to children ages 6 weeks to kindergarten. I worked mainly with the toddlers, but I also worked frequently in the preschool room. My main responsibility was to assess the learning level of the children and teach them all differently depending on their needs. I learned how to get down on a child's level so that they could understand a variety of different topics. My other duties included providing the necessary care, like changing diapers, feeding, and getting them to sleep. I also performed various housekeeping duties such as dish washing, sweeping, and mopping.

Providing a loving education to children going into 3rd grade to teenagers going into the senior year of high school. I taught the children a wide variety of subjects, including animal science, arts(photography and drama), and nature survival. I had to be independent and work on a team all the while having to keep a strict schedule. This job taught me to treat others with respect because they deserve it and how to interact with a lot of different types of people effectively. I also did a lot of odd jobs here and there, including: maintenance, housekeeping, and event set up.

This was a non-paid internship at an AZA-accredited zoo. I provided daily, loving care to all the different types of animals in the zoo. This means preparing meals, creating enrichment objects or opportunities, bathing the animals and cleaning their habitat, and observing them for signs of illness or injury. I rotated weekly to all the different areas in the zoo, including the vet hospital. Through the job I learned that zoo animal care is not for the faint of heart. And also how to safely capture the animals and how to react in emergency situations. I learned a lot about everything that goes into taking care of animals and working effectively on a team. I also worked with the education animals and learned proper care and handling techniques.