Wildlife Immersion and Leadership Development
The award-winning W.I.L.D. Program was launched at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in 2016 to provide culturally-diverse teens in Jacksonville with innovative leadership and employment opportunities. Developed in response to the Mayor’s Jacksonville Journey initiative, it is modeled on programs our Executive Director, Tony Vecchio, has implemented at other zoos.
As employees of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the W.I.L.D. Program participants, all between the ages of 14 and 19*, create outreaches to deliver to the community. These outreaches are free and delivered to an organization or facility that has been influential in the teens’ lives. These educational outreach programs aim to address the very real issue of promoting and re-imaging the campaign for environmental literacy.
While the teens involved become adept at environmental education, ultimately, the W.I.L.D. Program promotes self-awareness and confidence, broadens the teens’ capacity as emerging leaders, and builds an effective, inclusive team. These teens are the face of the zoo in their community, and voice of their generation for the environment.
Here at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, we’re always looking for great talent to add to our current team. Therefore, we are excited to announce that we are expanding our team and looking for teens just like you!
So, if you are a teen between the ages of 14 – 19* who would be an asset to our team, contact us at wildprogram@jacksonvillezoo.org!
Recruitment ends March 2021!
Interested in an application? Email us at wildprogram@jacksonvillezoo.org
Questions?
Please contact us at wildprogram@jacksonvillezoo.org
Looking for more opportunities for teens?
Check out our Volunteer Progams
Hear more from Chris Conner, the W.I.L.D. Program Coordinator and 2019 12 Who Care Community Service Award Winner!