Portland Insectarium Internship Program
We now have a very limited internship program available for minors (ages 8-16). This page is under construction but if you are interested in this program, please send and email info@pdxinsectarium.org.
Animal husbandry: feeding, terrarium design, cleaning and maintenance, heat and humidity, substrate mixing.
General work skills (depending on age): people skills, cash handling, Square POS, social media, marketing.
Invertebrate zoology education: arthropod taxonomy, anatomy, identification, behavior, evolution. Field work, pinning, scientific illustration.
Community and friendship: meet other bug-lovers, make connections, network.
Museum curation: exhibit design, terrarium design, infographics
Inspiration and mentorship: meet and learn from diverse scientists, artists, and business owners. Portland Insectarium and the collective that houses us, Milieu, are owned and operated by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and neurodivergent folks.
Museum curation: exhibit design, terrarium design, infographics
Pricing
General: 6 hours per week (maximum) = 1 month $400, 3 months $1000
3 hours per week = 1 month $200, 3 months $500
Specific programs
In the field: 6 hours per week. Only available July-Sept $1500
Scientific Illustration: info coming soon
Animal husbandry: info coming soon
Pinning and identification: info coming soon
Arachnology: info coming soon
Full transparency on pricing
Initially the insectarium did not intend to have volunteers under the age of 18, but we experimented with a couple of passionate regulars who asked directly. Unfortunately some problems arose that highlighted the fact the we are not a child care or education facility and our staff and adult volunteers were not equipped to handle children on the premises without an adult guardian present, which is a liability for us. This is why I am developing this program, which is part volunteer/internship and part child care and education program. Pricing is based on Portland's average cost of child care ($15.97/hr) and the cost of other after school and summer camp programs (OMSI $400+ per day, Engineering for Kids $429 per week, Saturday Academy $295+ per week). Sliding scale available for BIPOC.
General work skills (depending on age): people skills, cash handling, Square POS, social media, marketing.
Invertebrate zoology education: arthropod taxonomy, anatomy, identification, behavior, evolution. Field work, pinning, scientific illustration.
Community and friendship: meet other bug-lovers, make connections, network.
Museum curation: exhibit design, terrarium design, infographics
Inspiration and mentorship: meet and learn from diverse scientists, artists, and business owners. Portland Insectarium and the collective that houses us, Milieu, are owned and operated by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and neurodivergent folks.
Museum curation: exhibit design, terrarium design, infographics
Pricing
General: 6 hours per week (maximum) = 1 month $400, 3 months $1000
3 hours per week = 1 month $200, 3 months $500
Specific programs
In the field: 6 hours per week. Only available July-Sept $1500
Scientific Illustration: info coming soon
Animal husbandry: info coming soon
Pinning and identification: info coming soon
Arachnology: info coming soon
Full transparency on pricing
Initially the insectarium did not intend to have volunteers under the age of 18, but we experimented with a couple of passionate regulars who asked directly. Unfortunately some problems arose that highlighted the fact the we are not a child care or education facility and our staff and adult volunteers were not equipped to handle children on the premises without an adult guardian present, which is a liability for us. This is why I am developing this program, which is part volunteer/internship and part child care and education program. Pricing is based on Portland's average cost of child care ($15.97/hr) and the cost of other after school and summer camp programs (OMSI $400+ per day, Engineering for Kids $429 per week, Saturday Academy $295+ per week). Sliding scale available for BIPOC.