CWS Environmental Science Internship Program

Thank you for your interest in the Wildlife Environmental Science Internship Program. The program was established to provide a unique experience to students and non-students interested in the field of wildlife conservation. The main goal of the internship is to provide intensive hands-on-training and experience to individuals who wish to pursue a career in wildlife studies, veterinary medicine, environmental education, or related fields. The Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit, wildlife rehabilitation hospital and education facility funded through grants and individual donations. Our organization is open 365 days-a-year to provide hand-rearing care to orphaned wildlife and free medical treatment to sick, injured, and oiled wildlife. The Sanctuary also seeks to educate the general public about the importance of each living creature. Because of this, the Sanctuary accepts any and all wild animals, from the common Grey Squirrel to the Bald Eagle (However we do NOT handle skunks, foxes, or racoons due to a State Rabies Quarantine on these animals). Services other than medical treatment are also provided by the Sanctuary, including on and off site wildlife education programs and a wildlife information hotline. If you are selected for an internship in either the bird or mammal clinics you job, primarily, will be assisting the staff in that clinic. Much of your time will be spent cleaning cages, feeding and doing daily maintenance, which is required to keep the Sanctuary running at a steady pace. You will also be given the opportunity to learn and participate in the many medical aspects of wildlife rehabilitation. Although an internship at the Sanctuary promises to be educational and rewarding it also involves hard work. Interns not only assist in the treatment of the Sanctuary's wildlife patients they are required to assist with the daily tasks that are necessary to run a wildlife care facility. Wildlife rehabilitation is not only medical treatment it is also the care of the environment in which the patients are in to ensure a healthy recovery.

The following are the several internship opportunities offered by the Sanctuary:

Small Mammal: rehabilitation and record keeping, with a focus on hand-rearing and care of small mammals (i.e. squirrels, rabbits, opossums, groundhogs, beavers). Large Mammal (summer only): record-keeping, rehabilitation and rearing of White-tailed deer, including feeding, environment maintenance, health checks, medical treatments. Avian: rehabilitation, record-keeping, and rearing of a variety of birds (i.e. songbirds, raptors, waterfowl). Veterinary (minimum 3rd year vet student): record-keeping and treatment of injured wildlife, medical management of trauma cases, design of treatment protocols, and more. Wildlife Education: design and presentation of on-and-off site educational programs for schools, scout groups, and the public. Administration: preparation of grant proposals to support our land trust, oiled wildlife, or intern and volunteer programs; fundraising; computer training; and much more.

There are NO DEADLINES for internship applications. We receive applications year-round and review them as they arrive. We make a prompt decision within two weeks of receiving them. If you are under time constraints and need a quicker response we are more than happy to assist you. We can also accept interns up to a year in advance. applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We DO provide on-site and off-site housing for a nominal charge. We DO NOT provide stipends, living expenses, loans, or food/meals. However, we DO provide a MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP ranging from $350 - $500 after the completion of internships to students who meet the following criteria:

Signs an internship contract at the beginning of the internship to provide service to the Sanctuary for a minimum of 12 weeks, working 40 hours per week. Provides outstanding service to the Sanctuary during their internsip. Works well with other interns, volunteers, and staff members - as a team player. Participates in optional programs and projects. Satisfactorily completes goals which were the basis for their internship.

To apply for an internship at the Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary, please print the accompaning application and fill it out, indicating the internship option in which you are most interested. Send: (1) the enclosed application along with (2) two letters of recomendation, (3) a resume, (4) a school transcript (Xerox acceptable), and (5) a two-page essay describing your goals if you are accepted into the program to: The Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary Internship Application 17308 Queen Anne Bridge Road Bowie, MD 20716-9053 For more information please contact the Sanctuary at (301) 390-7011 or e-mail at cheswild@erols.com If you would like to receive information about our internship program through the mail send us a self addressed stamped envelope, and we will send you the Intern Brochure (same information as above) and an Application.

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