Bronx Zoo

Wildlife Conservation Corps

Passionate about wildlife and conservation? Interested in marine biology? Enjoy working and volunteering in your community to make it a better place? Care deeply about making meaningful contributions to important causes? If you answered yes to these questions, we are looking for you to become an advocate for wildlife and the environment!

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WHAT IS THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CORPS?

The Wildlife Conservation Corps (WCC) provides training to students interested in campaigning for wildlife and habitats. Students in this program will support WCS's Blue York campaign (http://blueyork.org/) and generate awareness for New York City's aquatic species and the threats they face. Students will learn natural history, conservation, environmental policy and social marketing. Working together at the Bronx Zoo, the students will create a campaign to help call attention to and support a citywide ban on microbeads. Microbeads are tiny plastics used in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products that get washed down the drain. Since wastewater treatment plants cannot filter out these small particles, microbeads end up in local waterways where they can attract and accumulate toxic chemicals and be mistaken as food by aquatic wildlife. Ultimately microbeads are passed up the food chain to larger fish and ultimately humans.

WHAT WILL YOU DO AS A WCC MEMBER?

• Work within the Bronx community to run a campaign supporting wildlife conservation,
• Learn how environmental policies impact communities and the health of the environment, and
• Explore ways you can influence change as a young leader.

WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE?

• Over 135 hours of training,
• Guidance on how to run a social marketing campaign,
• Increased confidence in leadership and public speaking,
• New friends and relationships within the community
• Skills for collaborating with others from different backgrounds with diverse perspectives,
• Personal and professional experience for resumes and college applications, and
• Paid transportation costs and a $600 participation stipend at the completion of the program.

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS?

• You are a student entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in good standing.

• You are able to commit to the afterschool schedule, two days a week (October through April) and attend two full-day training sessions.
• You are interested in supporting marine conservation programs and strengthening your skills as a youth leader.
• You are interested in understanding how environmental policy works and how it impacts communities.

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The deadline for applications is October 5, 2015.

Have a question? For more information about the Wildlife Conservation Corps, please contact Cheryl Calaustro, Program Manager at ccalaustro@wcs.org