WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Anyone who is 18 years old or older and is interested in contributing to the workings of a non-profit organization, and studying the behavior of the gray wolf is welcome. Wolf Park has had participants from all over the world, ranging in age from 18 to 65. Foreign applicants to the internship program hoping to come here during the Park's open season need to have good English skills, so they can give tours to the public. WHEN ARE INTERNSHIPS/PRACTICUMS AVAILABLE? Practicum and intern applications are accepted and evaluated all year round. Practicums and interns reside at Wolf Park all year round. The earlier you apply, the better your chances are for getting the dates you desire. Summer is the most busy time, so apply early. Generally we ask that your stay begin around the first of the month. WHAT ARE PRACTICUMS AND INTERNSHIPS? The practicums and internships offered at Wolf Park are unique opportunities to spend time working at, and being part of the daily life of a facility that keeps captive wolves, and does education programs for the public. While here, participants have the opportunity to study, in depth, the behavior and management of wolves in captivity. Participants in both programs are required to live on the property, unless other arrangements have been approved by Wolf Park. Practicums usually last a month, although shorter or longer visits can be arranged. Practicums are not required to do any work for Wolf Park. However, many practicum students actually behave like interns, except they spend a shorter period of time at the Park. Other practicums use their time at the park to do research projects on the wolves, or simply to observe the wolves and read and study, and do little or no work for the Park. The cost for a practicum is currently $530 for stays of up to one month. This fee includes one month's rent in the dormitory and access to research materials. (It does not include food or transportation.) Anyone who needs a shorter stay than the required three months of an internship (excluding the breeding season internship) is considered a practicum regardless of what they do while at the Park. Internships last a minimum of three months, although longer stays can sometimes be arranged. Interns are required to work for the Park Interns are also allowed to pursue research projects in their free time. However, since interns work long days, doing research on top of the work load would require a lot of personal initiative. Intern jobs are varied and performed under all types of conditions (extreme cold to extreme heat, rain), and include helping in the office, grounds work, handling animal carcasses, giving tours and working with the public. Interns generally work seven days a week. The program is intense, and only those with enthusiasm, willingness to do anything needed, and stamina should apply. The cost for the internship program is $180 for the first month, and $150 each for the second and third month ($480 for a three-month stay). This fee covers the cost of living in the dormitory. (It does not include food or transportation.) Interns are also given access to reference material such as books and videos. Wolf Park offers little formal or structured education for practicums or interns. Therefore, participants need to be self motivated, outgoing, and capable of working without close supervision. The practicum program is most useful for people who have definite research or study goals in mind, or for those with limited amount of time available to spend here. Internships are better suited for those who want to possibly dabble in research, explore different aspects of animal-related careers, or those who simply want to experience working for a non-profit, educational organization and learning about wolves. If neither of these educational opportunities interests you or your time is very limited, Wolf Park does offer an assortment of seminars which last only 3-5 days (see our main web site). Visiting students whose time here coincides with a seminar may participate in some seminar lectures, if scheduling permits. The work schedule for interns at Wolf Park is such that it is impossible to work simultaneously at another job outside the Park. The intense work schedule of interns is not suitable for everyone. But those willing to work long hours are rewarded by a sense of accomplishment, and a feeling of having greatly assisted in the functioning of a non-profit organization. Those who have doubts about working upwards of 55 hours per week for 12 weeks or more, should seriously consider the practicum program, rather than the internship. Both interns and practicums will get limited opportunities to interact with Wolf Park's resident socialized wolves. However, due to safety concerns, as well as other considerations, this is a very small part of the experience of studying and working at Wolf Park. If your only real interest is in handling wolves, this program is not appropriate for you. BREEDING SEASON INTERNSHIPS Participants in this internship are only required to stay for two months, January and February. (Staying for a third month is optional.) The cost for this internship is $180 for the first month, $150 for the second month, for a total cost of $330. (As usual, this does not include food or transportation.) Breeding season interns participate in collecting data during our 24-hour breeding season watch, in addition to normal intern duties. For more details on what the other intern duties are, see the description of the basic intern above. This internship will include many late night and early morning hours. Daily observation sessions are a minimum of 3 hours spent by yourself, observing the wolves and recording behavioral data. Those doing midnight to 3 am sessions must handle staying awake, and being alone in the dark, often watching sleeping wolves for 3 hours. This program is ideal for those wanting to do an internship but with limited time, or those who desire an intense, two month long study of wolf breeding season behavior. The cold weather and late hours make this internship intense in a different way than the summer internship, which involves long days of lawn care and tours for the public. Interns must arrive no later than January 10 in order to participate in this program.
AS A PRACTICUM STUDENT YOU WILL ALSO:
AS AN INTERN YOU WILL ALSO:
WHAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING TO WOLF PARK:
LIVING AT WOLF PARK Wolf Park does have co-ed dormitory style housing on the property. Intern and practicum students, as well as some permanent residents, share the same house. This building also houses the main office of Wolf Park. Depending on the time of year and number of people staying at Wolf Park, living quarters can become very close. Interns and practicums will most likely have at least one roommate, of the same sex. The dormitory has five rooms with 2 beds in each. The dorm has all the amenities of home: bathrooms, kitchen, washer and dryer, t.v., etc. (Dishes and cooking necessities are there for your use.) There is also a common phone in the kitchen. All dorm residents need their own calling card to make long distance phone calls, or their own cell phone. Some internet access is also provided. Residents are responsible for purchasing and preparing all their own food. All residents are responsible for keeping the house clean during their stay as well. Dormitory residents are not allowed to bring their own pets. However, animals, mostly dogs, have lived in this house in the past. If you have strong allergies to dogs or other household pets, please take this into consideration. There is no smoking permitted inside any building, so smokers must go outside year round. Wolf Park is located 10 miles north of Lafayette, Indiana. Visiting interns and practicums are expected to get transportation as far as Lafayette, and we can get them from there to the Park if necessary. We do not require practicums or interns to have a car while here, but it is recommended due to the remote location. For those who do not have their own transportation, rides into town for food, shopping, and occasional entertainment can be arranged. There is a strict NO ALCOHOL policy at Wolf Park. This means NO ALCOHOL is allowed on the property, no matter how old you are or what the laws governing alcohol may be where you are from. There is also a strict NO DRUG policy at Wolf Park. A violation of these rules is grounds for dismissal from Wolf Park. Due to construction projects and other jobs you may be involved in, proof of a current TETANUS SHOT is required. Participants are required to have their own insurance coverage for their stay as well. Interns are involved in a lot of physical activity, from constructing fences to digging holes. While we want you to be safe and healthy during your stay, we also want you to be ok if anything unpleasant should occur. ANNUAL ACTIVITY SCHEDULE The following is a general monthly schedule to help prospective interns and practicums decide when they may want to stay at Wolf Park.
RESEARCH PROJECTS If you are accepted to either the practicum or internship program and have a research project in mind, in order to make sure that what you have planned is possible and will be approved by Wolf Park, we suggest getting our consent in advance of your arrival. Project proposals and outlines should be sent to Pat Goodmann, c/o Wolf Park, or via email (pat@wolfpark.org). After your project has been approved by Pat, she will get consent from Dr. Klinghammer as well. You are not required to do a research project. Many students simply work and study during their time here. It is a good way to learn about research in a non-threatening environment. Most of the research at Wolf Park is observational in nature. Students in the past have studied sleeping behavior, eating behavior, howls and other vocalizations, and adult interaction with puppies, to name just a few. Many students will focus on a particular animal and observe its interactions with the other animals. Other study opportunities exist with the foxes and our bison. The small staff has limited time; therefore projects involving the manipulations of the animals and their environment are not permitted. Research projects should be purely based on observation of the wolves, not anything that requires human participation or interaction of any kind. Also, due to time limitations, the staff cannot be an integral part of the research collection. Do remember, though, the staff is always available to answer questions. Before attempting long and involved projects, especially those resulting in something important such as a Masters thesis, a visit to Wolf Park is recommended. ACADEMIC CREDIT AND CERTIFICATES Many students get college credit for their time here. However, Wolf Park does not issue academic credits. Students who wish to carry out a project for academic credit must sign up for a course at their own college or university. They will submit their work to their instructor for evaluation and grading and send a copy to Wolf Park. They must credit Wolf Park as the place where the research was done. Wolf Park staff, when possible, will assist in helping practicums and interns with necessary recommendations and evaluations at the end of their stay. We do provide a certificate of completion for your time here. NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE Since we accept interns and practicums on a year round basis, there is no set date when you can expect notification. If you have requirements for when you need to be notified due to other commitments and opportunities, please inform us so that we can be sure to take that into account. We want to offer this educational opportunity to the most individuals possible, as we believe it is part of our mission to educate people about wolves. All applicants will be notified by mail and/or email as to whether or not they are accepted. If you are accepted, in order to secure your place at Wolf Park, you must send in a $180 deposit. After we have received your deposit, we will send you an information package with more information about the Park. If you find you cannot attend the program after you have been accepted or even after you have sent in your deposit, please let us know as soon as possible so we may allow someone else to attend in your place. If no materials have been sent out, we will refund $130 of your deposit. If materials have been sent out, then $100 will be returned and you may keep the materials. Each participant in the internship and practicum program will be given a certificate upon completion of their time here. The certificate will have the name of the participant, the title and dates of the program, and a photograph of the wolf of the participant's choice. All participants will also receive a single membership to Wolf Park for one year. ALONG WITH A COMPLETED APPLICATION, ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUPPLY A COPY OF THEIR RESUME AND TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (PREFERABLY FROM PROFESSORS OR EMPLOYERS). Letters of recommendation must be printed on letterhead stationery and be signed-- do not send a digital version that is not signed. Internship Application |
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