Aquarium Welcomes Interns

This summer at the aquarium we have seven interns joining the education team. Outreach and Husbandry also have an intern as well. The Education Interns get to assist the education staff with a variety of programs for the public. In addition to improving presentation skills, these interns assist with program development to add to the department’s selection of offerings. Other opportunities include exhibit interpreters for the Touch Tank and Let’s Talk Turtle Exhibit, small group tour guides, smart carts and presentations, and classroom activities. The education interns have been spending their first two weeks learning the ins and outs of the education department. Today they were animal handling trained with our invertebrates. This is what Echo had to say:


Today, Jocelyn, Whitney, Kyle, and I received invertebrate training from Melissa and Matt. Melissa showed us the invertebrate holding tank which contained horseshoe crabs, echinoderms, crustaceans, and snails. We learned to keep the animals in separate tanks because some of them eat each other, such as the Florida Horse Conch (Pleuroploca gigantea). We also learned the importance of cleaning your hands in between exhibits to prevent the spread of diseases. After we completed the first part of invertebrate training, we proceeded to learn how to handle the moon jellies with Matt. Matt showed us how to properly pick up a moon jelly from its tank. He explained that we need to lift the jelly out of the water upside down so that the bell acts as a bowl holding water so no air bubble get trapped. I am excited to handle the invertebrates here at the aquarium and eager to learn more.

From L-R: Echo, Jocelyn, Whitney, and Kyle