Animal Careers: Exploration Time From a Zookeeper!

Growing up, I knew animals were my passion and that I wanted to pursue a career with them. As a homeschooler, I had the opportunity to explore many career paths in a hands-on manner. I have now landed my job as a zookeeper, conservationist, and animal educator but this was after years of working in many animal fields: wildlife in government, veterinary work, animal education, conservation locally and abroad, domestic care, animal training, etc. I want students who are passionate about animals to feel inspired to explore many animal career options and give them the tools to learn about or pursue whatever they think is the best fit for them. During this class, we will discuss in detail all of the career opportunities listed above. We will discuss the mission of each of them, how to productively pursue that career field, and what can be expected of that line of work. I will have pictures from my experience but the information I provide to the students about these jobs will be fact-based and unbiased. There will be slides, videos/pictures, and discussion time for each topic we cover. My teaching style is fun and upbeat, mostly because I am passionate about this course. I want students to feel excited about the opportunities at their feet and that they have the tools to explore what a career with animals could look like. There is no experience or knowledge needed to participate.