By Payton Tholstrup

Image courtesy of Sunset Zoo on Facebook

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a zookeeper?

Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, KS announced that this summer, high school students aged 14-17 can look behind the scenes through the zoo’s Junior Zookeeper Program.

While the program has been around for decades, Erica Buckwalter, Curator of Education at Sunset Zoo, said a recent change has been made.

“We increased the age from 10-13 years old to 14-17. This change broadened opportunities for students from working solely with the ambassador animals to working with ambassadors, primates, kangaroos, and emus, as well as in the commissary, summer camps, zoo grounds doing interpretation, and with our horticulture team.”

Programming is still available for students ages 10-13. Children in this age group can participate in Summer Safari Camps and Wildlife Warriors Program.

Buckwalter said every day is different for Junior Zookeeper participants.

“They may be prepping animal diets in our commissary one day and cleaning up the kangaroo habitat with a keeper the next!”

Junior Zookeepers learn about a variety of different topics, including husbandry, culinary skills, horticulture, and educational skills.

Students can apply on the zoo’s website by downloading the application and emailing it zooeed@cityofmhk.com. Applications can also be dropped off at the zoo’s ticket booth. Applications must be submitted by March 31st.

The program is competitive, but Buckwalter said it is still a fun process.

“We’ll do group and individual interviews as well as tour them around the Zoo to get to know them better. Then, we welcome up to 20 participants into the program.”

Buckwalter said the program is unique to the Flint Hills Region, with its framework teaching life skills such as flexibility, dedication, and stewardship. Students also create lifelong memories focusing on husbandry practices and conservation action.

“The Junior Zookeeper program provides an opportunity for children who love animals to explore a future career in zoology before they ever get to college. And if they participate for all four years, that’s four years of zookeeping experience they can put on their resume right away!”