Junior curators learn lessons, have fun at OKC Zoo
Junior curators learn lessons, have fun at OKC Zoo

Published: May 8, 2008

Leighanne Dean
Homeschool
Junior


A junior curator hands out candy to the little kids who participated in the Easter activities held by the zoo. Photo by Ben Bible

It’s Saturday morning, and16-year-old Erin Tsambikos is hard at work, cleaning out a pool in the bird area at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

“I was wearing boots that went up to my knees, and I set the hose down and the end of it accidentally went into my boots,” she said. “I was soaked!”

Tsambikos is one of the zoo’s 35 teen volunteers.

These junior curators do everything from working with veterinarians in the hospital to helping zookeepers with snakes in the herpetarium.

They also have an opportunity to interact with the public, helping out with children’s camps and birthday parties in the summer, as well as special events.

Tsambikos is considering becoming a veterinarian, and she said antelopes are her favorite animals to work with.

“All the animals have names, but it’s kind of hard to remember them all,” Tsambikos said. “When the keepers come by they’ll tell you their names and if they have an interesting story.”

She admits there are some dirty jobs.

“It was snowing one day, and all the pachyderms had been brought inside and we had to sweep up all the poop and it was really bad,” Tsambikos said.

Junior curators must work at least eight hours at a time and put in a minimum of 100 hours a year.

Some go far beyond.

Last year, 16-year-old Mic Ahrnsbrak clocked in 523 hours.

“It’s the most fun I’ve had in my entire life,” said Ahrnsbrak, who is in his third year with the program.

The zoo receives anywhere from 80 to 125 applications a year.

Students must be between the ages of 14 and 18, submit two recommendations and pass two interviews.

The zoo is looking for a balanced and diverse group of students, program coordinator Lizabeth Ogle said.

Students interested in applying for a position can attend an open house to learn about the program and talk with some of the current junior curators.

“If it’s your first job it can be kind of intimidating to go through the interviews,” Tsambikos said. “But it’s definitely worth it.”

Many of the junior curators, like Ahrnsbrak, return to the program again and again.

Ogle says the best part of her job is watching teens grow and come back each year.

A few become zoo interns during college, and some go on to acquire the schooling and experience needed to become full-time zookeepers.

Caitlin Jones is back for her second year. Jones, a sophomore at Edmond Memorial High School, said she’s excited to be an official junior curator.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she said. She said she doesn’t intend to make zookeeping her career; instead, she plans to attend medical school.

Jones volunteers once a month during the school year and once a week during summer. Jones said her favorite part of the job is working at the special events, such as the Valentine’s Day Zoo Safari.

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