Junior Curator & Junior WILD! Keeper Programs
Established in 1949, our Junior Curator Program gives children ages 11-13 a unique opportunity to experience life on a real farm. The Junior Curator Program is the Museum's junior volunteer program and consists of five sessions. Similar to the Junior Curator program, WILD! Keepers gives participants ages 10-13 hands-on experience in the care, feeding, and enrichment of our exotic teaching animals, from chinchillas to lizards.
Junior Curator Program (ages 11-13)
Monday, October 15 - Friday, October 19, 3:30 - 5 pm
This program provides an overview of basic animal care and experiential learning on Heckscher Farm. The program includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the farm and various hands-on experiences, such as cleaning and feeding of animals. Upon completion of the program, each participant will be eligible to become a farm volunteer. Space is limited! Students are able to enroll in the Junior Curator program for a maximum of one session. Students who have already completed the Junior Curator class are not eligible to enroll again.
Members: $140 | Non-Members: $160
For information on Junior Curator classes, contact Victoria Jaffery at 203.968.8362 or by e-mail. To register please call 203.977.6521.
Junior WILD! Keeper (ages 11-13)
Tuesday, October 9 - Friday October 12, 3:30 - 5 pm
Discover how the environmental education staff care for our exotic teaching animals in this unique hands-on program! We will work with Heckscher WILD! reptiles, amphibians, mammals and invertebrates to learn proper feeding, handling and caring techniques. We will prepare diets, explore how we habituate animals for classes through handling and go through specific needs for certain species. After completion of this class, participants are eligible to volunteer with the animals in the Heckscher WILD exhibit. Limited enrollment.
Members: $110 | Non-Members: $130
For information on the Junior WILD! Keepers classes, contact Sydnee Foster at 203.977.6540 or by e-mail. To register please call 203.977.6521.
Junior Environmental Educators (ages 15-17)
The Junior Environmental Educators (JEE) is our camp counselor-in-training program, and is a member-only opportunity for high school volunteers aged 15 and older. JEE staff will receive hands-on training in developing age-appropriate, innovative environmental education curriculum, in Connecticut natural history and managing a multi-age, co-ed group. Volunteers will assist staff in all aspects of our environmentally themed summer camp including preparation, group management, morning check-in, afternoon pick-up and activity coordination. There are 6 one-week sessions in our half day and full day camps.
JEE participants must be 15 by the start of camp, be able to commit to a minimum of 5 consecutive camp days and be willing to submit a current medical record. JEE participants and their parents must sign off on a volunteer code of conduct. Interviews will be held throughout the spring and training dates for chosen applicants will be held toward the end of June.
For more information on the program, please contact Lisa Monachelli at 203.977.6568 or by e-mail. Click here for a JEE application. Application fee is $75.
