Internship
Your help is welcomed year round!
The PRC operates 365 days a year, and we offer seasonal internship sessions year round. Our website will help familiarize you with our history and mission, and give you some sense of the vital role that interns play in our day-to-day operations. We have short and long term internships, so take a look to see what category best fits you as a potential intern at the Primate Rescue Center!
- 12-week Program
- Seasonal Sessions
- On-Site housing available
- Limited positions available
- Introduction to animal care
- Learn from experienced carestaff
- Minimum of 26-week to maximum 52 week program
- On-Site living required
- Personal vehicle required
- Weekly stipend provided
- Full-Time/40 hours per week position; two days off per week
- May be required to work weekends and/or holidays
- Build your resume and gain significant training and experience
Eileen Dunnington Dallaire
Executive Director
This program is tailored to individuals interested in a 3-month introduction to primate husbandry, behavior, and the daily operation of a non-profit primate sanctuary. It is an opportunity for individuals to train under experienced carestaff and gain valuable skills and knowledge that will introduce them to a career in primate husbandry. This program is labor intensive and is suited for hard working, dedicated, positive, self-motivated individuals who don’t mind a little dirt under their nails.
Program Goal
To encourage careers in animal care, advocacy, rehabilitation, and conservation.
Program Description
The PRC Short Term Internship Program is designed to immerse students, recent graduates, and those interested in pursuing a career with animals from across the U.S. and abroad in the daily operation of a nonprofit primate sanctuary. Our program provides a unique opportunity to participate in the routine care and ongoing rehabilitation of over 40 nonhuman primates in an environment that is focused entirely on their enrichment and well-being. PRC residents are never exploited for any reason, including exhibition, and are afforded lifetime care in a protected and secure environment. Our interns play a vital role in making our sanctuary successful at meeting our commitment to our residents.
Interns assist with the daily care of our residents, along with administrative tasks, fundraising, and special tasks. Duties include, but are not limited to, food preparation and sorting, cleaning of animal and human areas, and creating enrichment items for primates. Interns can expect to gain significant animal husbandry experience, learn about primate behavior, stress responses, and the rehabilitation process; gain a greater understanding of the issues facing primates and other animals in the modern world. The working environment is intimate and dynamic, and we encourage interns to be motivated, innovative and ask questions. Interns will have numerous opportunities to observe the animals and get to know them as individuals. However, interns will never have physical interaction with any of our nonhuman primate residents. Attempts to do so are grounds for immediate dismissal.
Program Qualifications
All sessions are competitive and have limited spots. Coursework in primatology, biology, animal behavior, or psychology is preferred but not required. Applicants must be currently enrolled students, recently graduated students, or currently pursuing careers or internships in animal care. A general understanding, interest, and concern for primate well-being is required. This program is labor intensive, so interns must be in good physical condition and be able to lift 50 pounds. Proof of a negative TB test is required. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Program Term
Interns are required to complete a minimum of:
480 working hours (40hrs/week for 3 months) if you need on-site housing OR
240 working hours (20hrs/week for 3 months) if you do not need on site housing.
Intern shifts fall between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm. Interns may be asked to participate in after hours fundraising activities or events.
Interns who are unable or unwilling to meet any requirements may be dismissed from their position at any time. We reserve the right to dismiss any intern at any time for any reason, including but not limited to the following examples:tardiness, missed work, excessive cancellations, unpleasant attitude, poor work ethic, inappropriate interaction with the animals, disrespect of sanctuary staff, interns, volunteers, or animal residents, inability to work with others, inability to listen and follow instructions, or disregard for PRC policies.
Enrollment Dates
The PRC Short Term Internship Program is segmented into seasonal sessions. These sessions may be flexible depending on individual and sanctuary’s schedules and needs.
Spring Session: March – April – May
Summer Session: June – July – August
Fall Session: September – October – November
Winter Session: December – January – February
Program Cost
To support our internship programs without taking away from our animal care program, we require fees to cover various internship costs, including but not limited to, training materials and time, utilities, and other amenities. Interns are responsible for their own transportation and food expenses, laundry and long distance calls. All fees are non-refundable and are due in full two weeks prior to your start date. All internship fees will be received as a tax-deductible donation to the sanctuary.
*A Director’s Scholarship may be available and awarded based on need to selected applicants. To apply, please include a two-page paper with your application describing the reasons we should consider you for this scholarship.
Fees without Housing: $100/month = $300 for 3 month session
Fees with Housing: $100/week = $1200 for 3 month session
Modern, comfortable housing is available at the sanctuary, and interns are strongly encouraged to stay on-site. This housing can accommodate up to two same-gender individuals. Pets are not allowed. The sanctuary is located in a rural area requiring transportation to all stores and retail areas. We are approximately 15 miles from the city of Lexington and about 5 miles from the nearest convenience store. Interns without their own transportation can catch a ride into town once or twice a week. On-site laundry machines are available.
This above fee includes rent, utilities, local phone service, Satellite and Internet services. All fees are non-refundable and are due in full two weeks prior to the first day of your internship.
Join The Fun
This program is tailored to individuals interested in gaining significant training and experience in nonhuman primate husbandry, behavior, and the daily operation of a non-profit primate sanctuary. Individuals have the opportunity to work closely and train under the knowledgeable carestaff to gain valuable skills that will build their resume and prepare them for a promising career in primate care. This program is labor intensive and is suited for hard working, dedicated, positive, team-oriented, self-motivated individuals.
Program Goal
To provide intensive training, experience and exposure to primate husbandry in a non-profit sanctuary setting.
Program Description
The PRC Long Term Internship Program is designed to immerse recent graduates and those interested in pursuing a career with animals from across the U.S. and abroad in the daily operation of a nonprofit primate sanctuary. Our program provides a unique opportunity to participate in the routine care and ongoing rehabilitation of nearly 50 nonhuman primates in an environment that is focused entirely on their enrichment and well-being. PRC residents are never exploited for any reason, including exhibition, and are afforded lifetime care in a protected and secure environment. Our interns play a vital role in making our sanctuary successful in meeting our commitment to our residents.
Interns assist with the daily care of our residents, along with administrative tasks, fundraising, and other special tasks. Duties include, but are not limited to, food preparation and sorting, cleaning of animal, human, and food prep areas, and creating enrichment items for primates. Interns can expect to gain significant animal husbandry experience. They will also learn about primate behavior, stress responses, and the rehabilitation process. They will gain a greater understanding of the issues facing primates and other animals in the modern world. The working environment is intimate and dynamic, and we encourage interns to be motivated, innovative and ask questions. Interns will have numerous opportunities to observe the animals and get to know them as individuals. However, interns will never have physical interaction with any of our nonhuman primate residents, even though you will be spending a significant time with the PRC. Attempts to do so are grounds for immediate dismissal.
Program Qualifications
This program is only open to one qualified individual at a time, so it is extremely competitive. Coursework in primatology, biology, animal behavior, or psychology is preferred but not required. Applicants must be recently graduated students or individuals currently pursuing careers or internships in primate care. An understanding, interest, and concern for primate issues, well-being, and welfare is required. This program is labor intensive, so interns must be in good physical condition and be able to lift 50 pounds. Proof of negative TB test is required. Applicants must commit to work a minimum of 6 consecutive months, live on-site in sanctuary housing, and have a personal vehicle available for transportation. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Program Term
Interns are required to complete a minimum of 26 consecutive weeks working full-time, 40 hours per week. Interns will have two days off per week. Shifts fall between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm. Interns may be required to work holidays and weekends. Interns may be required to participate in after-hours fundraising activities or events. Interns will receive a weekly stipend of $50.
Interns who are unable or unwilling to meet any requirements may be dismissed from their position at any time. We reserve the right to dismiss any intern at any time for any reason, including but not limited to the following examples: tardiness, missed work, excessive cancellations, unpleasant attitude, poor work ethic, inappropriate interaction with the animals, disrespect of sanctuary staff, interns, volunteers, or animal residents, inability to work with others, inability to listen and follow instructions, or disregard for PRC policies.
Enrollment Dates
The PRC Long Term Internship Program is open until we find the right person.
Housing Information – Modern, comfortable housing is available at the sanctuary for long-term interns. This housing can accommodate up to two same-gender individuals. Pets are not allowed. The sanctuary is located in a rural area requiring transportation to all stores and retail areas. We are approximately 15 miles from the city of Lexington and about 5 miles from the nearest convenience store. On-site laundry machines are available. Includes utilities, television, and Internet services.
The Social Primate
In general, primates are social animals. There are many benefits for being a part of a social system, one being protection. Of course, there are some exceptions to this general principle, for instance, the male orangutan, perhaps for the purpose of restraining the number of members competing for the same recourses, but this is not a common theme among the primate order.
Jake and Japanese Macaques
My name is Alister Brown. I interned at the Primate Rescue Center from May to September in 2021. During my time, I was able to grow close to all of the primates on the property. Since I lived in the same building as the chimpanzees, I grew especially close to all...
Turning Trash Into Treasure
Carley Burrow joined our PRC team of interns in the spring of 2019. Check out this creative and resourceful enrichment project she made for the monkeys! Using a cardboard drink carrier, shredded paper, treats, a cardboard box, a pen, four medium length zip ties...
