Internships with Rockfish Sanctuary
Welcome Summer 2010 Interns!
Lisa Kleinschmidt is a rising senior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA majoring in Biology.
Sarah Petri is a rising senior at the University of Vermont in Burlington majoring in Zoology
Ryan Shaw will be a third year student at the University of Virginia this fall, double-majoring in Civil Engineering and Conservation Biology
Laura York is a rising junior at St. Mary's College in Maryland, majoring in Biology.
Find out what it's like to be a RWS Intern
Interested in becoming an intern? Contact RWS
Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, a small non-profit organization located in Nelson County, Virginia, is looking for summer interns with a genuine commitment to the care of injured and orphaned wildlife. The work is demanding but equally rewarding.
What's Involved:
- Duties include feeding, cleaning cages, and transporting wildlife.
- The minimum committment is six weeks at 40 hours a week. Hours are flexible since the animals require care seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.
- A certified wildlife rehabber provides ongoing training and supervision.
- You must be physically strong and have your own transportation. Mileage will be reimbursed.
Interested individuals should contact:
Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary
434-831-2900
Nathou Attinger, Wildlife Rehabilitator
434-962-7429
email:
phooka@sprintmail.com
What is it Like to be an RWS Intern?
"I learned so much at the Rockfish Sanctuary. I worked with many species of
birds and small mammals, and even some turtles. My favorite part of the summer
was when I was able to release an animal that had come into the Sanctuary when I
was working. Seeing the process from start to finish was so gratifying. What
a great experience!"
-- Marina Childs, VA Tech
"When people ask me if I enjoyed my internship, my response is: “What could be more fun than hanging out with baby animals all day?!” The work was messy and demanding, but when a baby wren hops up on your shoe and looks up at you peeping, it’s impossible to stay frustrated at it for being so needy. It was an amazing experience to watch the birds outgrow their nests, learn to fly, eat on their own, and eventually be released back into the wild. No matter how exhausted I felt at the end of the day, I would still leave Rockfish smiling because it was the most rewarding work I’ve ever experienced."
-- Molly Waldron, Hendrix College
My internship at Rockfish Sanctuary was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As an animal lover, it was wonderful to work in an environment where everyone shared the same passion. The opportunities for learning were endless and I feel as though I have left the sanctuary with a much better understanding of wildlife. The hands-on environment the sanctuary provided allowed me to work intimately with each animal which I really enjoyed. The love and nurture that Nathou has taught me to provide to all living creatures, is the most fulfilling thing I could have asked for.
-- Kasey Windnagel, UVA