SAMi Partnership Intern: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Job Description
Position Type: Limited-term, grant-funded, paid internship
Duration: Early September 2026 – March 2027
Schedule: approx. 32 hours/week; schedule to be confirmed after hire
Compensation: $2,500 monthly [up to 7 months, up to $17,500 total stipend]
Location: Lower ELC Zoo Staff Offices
Reports To: SAMi Partnership Coordinator
* This 7 month internship session will begin September 2026 and conclude March 2027 and is part of the Conservation Engagement Team *
POINT DEFIANCE ZOO & AQUARIUM is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. The 29-acre zoological park was established in 1905, and attracts over 800,000 visitors a year. It is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), which ensures rigorously high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education and more. The Zoo sits within 700-acre Point Defiance Park, offering spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is operated by Parks Tacoma.
OUR MISSION: Awakening a connection to Wild Life with everyone in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more visit pdza.org
The SAMi Partnership Internship is a unique opportunity for a recent graduate of Tacoma Public Schools’ Science and Math Institute (SAMi) to gain hands-on experience in collaborative conservation education and program impact evaluation. intern will work alongside Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) education staff to share their lived experiences and subject matter expertise, support the administration of a newly developed program evaluation system, and contribute to strategic planning for future partnered programming between PDZA and SAMi. This internship is designed to provide worksite learning in: community partnerships, conservation education program logistics coordination, program impact evaluation, empathy for wildlife best practices.
Position Type: Limited-term, grant-funded, paid internship
Duration: Early September 2026 – March 2027
Schedule: approx. 32 hours/week; schedule to be confirmed after hire
Compensation: $2,500 monthly [up to 7 months, up to $17,500 total stipend]
Location: Lower ELC Zoo Staff Offices
Reports To: SAMi Partnership Coordinator
* This 7 month internship session will begin September 2026 and conclude March 2027 and is part of the Conservation Engagement Team *
POINT DEFIANCE ZOO & AQUARIUM is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. The 29-acre zoological park was established in 1905, and attracts over 800,000 visitors a year. It is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), which ensures rigorously high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education and more. The Zoo sits within 700-acre Point Defiance Park, offering spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is operated by Parks Tacoma.
OUR MISSION: Awakening a connection to Wild Life with everyone in the Pacific Northwest. To learn more visit pdza.org
The SAMi Partnership Internship is a unique opportunity for a recent graduate of Tacoma Public Schools’ Science and Math Institute (SAMi) to gain hands-on experience in collaborative conservation education and program impact evaluation. intern will work alongside Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) education staff to share their lived experiences and subject matter expertise, support the administration of a newly developed program evaluation system, and contribute to strategic planning for future partnered programming between PDZA and SAMi. This internship is designed to provide worksite learning in: community partnerships, conservation education program logistics coordination, program impact evaluation, empathy for wildlife best practices.
About Metro Parks Tacoma
Metro Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community.
Good parks, open space and program services contribute to economic development by fostering economic benefits and promoting tourism:
- Environmentally, they provide green infrastructure and help manage climate change.
- Socially, they revitalize communities, create safer neighborhoods, help children learn and grow, improve public and environmental health, and support smart growth.
- Culturally, open space and program services can nurture a sense of place in the community, and provide opportunities to engage the public of diverse backgrounds.
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