Medical Technology major Nathan Franklin pursued his passion for wildlife by securing a summer internship with Animal Adventure Park – showcasing students don’t always need to limit themselves to a specific career path for an internship.
Q: How did you find your internship with Animal Adventure Park?
A: My sister shared this internship opportunity with me; she found it on Facebook and sent me the link. When I read about it, I knew this was something I would be interested in. I’m the type of person who loves exploring my interests, and since I love animals, I figured I’d give this a shot.
“I received $2,000 at the end of the summer as part of SUNY Brockport’s Brockport Internship & Professional Experience Stipend. Receiving this, I felt so relieved.”
Nathan Franklin
Q: In what ways did Brockport help you with this opportunity?
A: I received $2,000 at the end of the summer as part of SUNY Brockport’s Brockport Internship & Professional Experience Stipend. Receiving this, I felt so relieved. This award reimbursed me for my total of two hours driving every workday and food I would purchase on my lunch break while I was at the park. I was able to put my full attention into learning and experiencing all that this internship had in store for me without having to worry about money.
Q: What were your day-to-day responsibilities at the park?
A: I always arrived at the park earlier than needed. My tasks included feeding the animals, cleaning cages, and shadowing the keepers as they cared for different animals, including the large carnivore section. In an environment surrounded by hardworking people, I realized how many tasks I could complete in a day. It truly takes a team to properly care for these animals and maintain the park.
Q: What was your favorite part about this experience?
A: I loved being inside the warehouse where the big parrots are kept. From day one, I bonded with the park’s Blue and Gold Macaw named Foster. She would step up on me and take treats from my hand. Many birds don’t like being touched, so it was cool that she allowed me to pick her up. On my last day, the interns got to paint with their favorite animal to have a keepsake, so I made a painting with Foster.
The experience at Animal Adventure Park was more than I could’ve gotten at anywhere else. I’m glad I gave it a chance, as I knew some people look back and wish they had taken opportunities they can no longer revisit.
Q: Which animal was the coolest to care for?
A: My first day there reminded me of the movie We Bought a Zoo. I walked in and saw a huge tiger right in front of me. Even though I was walking in a designated alleyway next to the cage, the only thing separating me from the tiger was a wired fence. It felt incredible to be that close to such a large predator.
Q: Why did you choose SUNY Brockport?
A: I absolutely loved the layout of the campus; that’s what really did it for me. I know a lot of people who’ve attended Brockport, and it has a great reputation.