Over the weekend, the Phoenix Zoo held its annual Teen Career Conference. The program is designed to help turn teenage interest in animal conservation and care into full-blown careers.
Maddi Ritchie is one of the planners of the event.
“The first thing we’re doing today you see all our lovely panel members here" she said to 250 participants. "These are all of our Phoenix Zoo professionals and you guys are going to rotate through three 30-minute sessions where they’re going to tell you about their jobs and their experiences here.”
Ritchie is also a senior in high school and on the zoo’s volunteer youth advisory council, known as Trailblazers.
The zoo’s Youth Engagement Manager Nina Loughman says the council keeps an ear to the ground on what topics interest their peers.
Ritchie says “and there are some [topics] that tug on my own heart, I know endangered species and water conservation, especially living in the desert like we do. But some people will talk about things that I’ve never even heard of such as urban heat islands and that’s just so cool to see."
Loughman says this year’s conference was modified to include more veterinary science. And she says networking is very important in the field.
“Knowing someone and having that connection goes a long way," Loughman said. "And so they get to network with our zoo keepers, our vet, our social media team. They really get a more personal understanding of what those jobs are like and their name might be remembered down the line."
Panelist Emily Heckle is a carnivore keeper. She credits one of her mentors for why she works at the Phoenix Zoo.
“I would love to see them email me or email anyone through the zoo and be like ‘hey, I’m really interested, how do I get started’ because that’s what we need," Heckle said. "We need kids and young adults to want to be in this field. And once they show they want to be in it, we can take over from there.”
The event also connected students with schools, organizations and other professionals in animal care, science and conservation.
Ritchie highlighted opportunities like the Trailblazers and a volunteer program called ZooTeens.
A fellow Trailblazer, Melany Islas, adds that it can be hard to know where to begin.
"Joining and having a [broader] idea of the programs here at the Phoenix Zoo, you definitely get to have the chance, and finally get the experience of what you can do in the future," Islas said.
Ritchie says reaching out is key: "People want to teach you."
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