16. Advocats, Juniors & Interns

Advocat Duties: Data Entry, Gift Shop Assistant, Off-site Events, Social Networking, Tour Back-Up Assistant, Projects as Needed. After completing a Tour Back-Up Certification the Advocat can be utilized as the sole Back-Up. A spreadsheet tab will be added to the Class Completion Chart will be maintained and will include information on special skills.  Special projects will be posted on the Events Calendar for Advocats and other Volunteers to see.

Radios: All Advocat Volunteers must have a working radio with them.  Radios may be borrowed from the Gift Shop.  The Advocat’s driver’s license or car keys will be held at the Gift Shop until the radio is returned.

JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS
Junior Volunteer Program: The Junior Volunteer program will be limited to 6-8 participants ages 16-18. The Junior Volunteers must meet a minimum time commitment of 8 hours/month. Junior Volunteers hours will be tracked by CAS * and signed off by their parent. Barbara Riddle is the Coordinator of the Junior Volunteers.  A Coordinator will always accompany the Junior Volunteers on property. Junior Volunteers must wear an Advocat Volunteer Shirt (gray) at all times while on property or at an event.

Applications: Junior Volunteer appilcants will submit application, essay, report card and letters of reference. Applicants will be interviewed by a member of the Volunteer Committee and Barbara Riddle.  A bootcamp orientation will take place before the Junior Volunteer  officially begin their program. Cooperation, positive attitudes and safety will be stressed.

Junior Volunteer Duties: Functions associated with a Partner (Gift shop duties, inventory, cleaning, etc.), Tour Back Up Assistant, Data entry and thank you notes, Special Projects, Summer camp program, Social Networking and Off-site events.

Projects and Supervisors:  Projects, Junior Volunteer Days, and Supervisors must be approved in advance by the Operations Manager.

Logging Hours: Junior Volunteers will have paper CAS forms to fill in their volunteer hours, they do need access to the Freshbooks Time System.

Access to the BigCatRescue.me site:  Junior Volunteers will have Advocat access to the BigCatRescue.me site, meaning that they can view most pages, but can not make edits, comment, or use the calendars.

Juniors Transitioning into the Volunteer Program: One year of service as a Junior Volunteer will result in one month deducted from the probationary Trainee admin time.

INTERNS

INTERNSHIP LEVELS

The Big Cat Rescue Intern Program consists of 5 distinct levels; Level 1 – 5.  Each level progresses in duties and opportunities and is focused on utilizing intern strengths and meeting the varied needs of the sanctuary.  

The levels of advancement are as follows:

Trainee: All interns begin their journey as a Red Level Trainee. During this introductory 2 week period the intern will help with assigned projects and will always be under the direct supervision of a ranking volunteer.

Keeper Interns: 

Level 1 Keeper – Yellow Level

Level 2 Advanced Keeper – Yellow Level

Level 3 Senior Keeper –  Green Level

Level 4 Master Keeper – Navy Level

Level 5 Keeper Coordinator – Purple Level

Required for promotion to any level within the Internship Program is the successful completion of the current level’s classes and certifications (where required), passing of the Map Test and submitting an application for promotion to the Volunteer Committee. 

Applications for promotion can be found on the Classes & Maps page located under the Training and Docs section of the BigCatRescue.me site. Applications should be filled out completely and submitted electronically to the Volunteer Committee for consideration.

PRIOR TO START OF INTERNSHIP

Every intern regardless of Level – Trainee through Level 5 must obtain a tetanus vaccination, at their own expense, which will be valid for the duration of the internship.

$300 Deposit (to hold your spot in the internship program and in case there are housing or property damages during your stay). After successful completion of your internship and passing an exit housing inspection your deposit will be returned.

INTERN TRAINEE – RED

All interns begin their journey as a Red Level Trainee. During this introductory 2 week period the intern will help with assigned projects and will always be under the direct supervision of a ranking volunteer. 

Duties: Trainee duties may or may not include landscaping, enclosure maintenance projects, backing up tours, housekeeping of the gift shop, food prep, and other buildings onsite, administrative duties, grounds maintenance, assisting feeders, domestic cat care, daily chores, live prey care and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff. 

Time Commitment: 50 hours per week, 600 hours total hours. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals.

Red Level Intern Trainee Classes & Certifications

• Orientation Tour Back-up, Gate Operation and Guest Sign In

• Animal Emergency

• Animal Observation

• Live Prey Care

• Human First Aid

• Kitten Playtime (interaction with domestic foster kittens)

Keeper Advancement: Red Level Intern Trainees may request promotion to Yellow Level Keeper after having completed the following; 2 weeks interning a minimum of 50 hours  performing Trainee duties, completion of all Red Level classes and successful passing of the Map Test.  

LEVEL 1 KEEPER INTERN – YELLOW 

Level 1 Keeper Interns are eligible to begin training in small cat care (hybrids through lynx). Due to the physical demands and safety protocols of the Keeper positions, the following criteria must be met to maintain Big Cat Rescue’s safety standards.

• At least 18-years old and possess a valid driver’s license

• Physical and mental capability to safely perform Keeper tasks

• Capable of walking and standing for extended periods of time

• Capable of lifting and carrying at least 50 pounds

• Possess vision and hearing at adequate levels

• Possess adequate literacy and verbal comprehension of English

• Give complete disclosure of any prescription drugs

• Pregnant interns will not be accepted into the internship program

Duties: Level 1 Keeper duties may or may not include Trainee duties, cleaning small cats (hybrids through lynx), guiding Private Tours, small cat enrichment, leading projects, training and mentoring Trainees, and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff.

Time Commitment: 50 hours per week, 600 hours total hours. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals.

Yellow Level 1 Keeper Classes & Certifications

• Small Cat Cleaning and Certification

• Small Cat Enrichment and Certification

• Events

• Tour Guide and Certification 

Certification Requirements: Each of the above classes and certifications must be completed in the order as listed before moving on to the next class and certification.  

Advancement: Level 1 Keeper Interns may request promotion to Level 2 Advanced Keeper after having completed the following; 12 consecutive weeks interning a minimum of 50 hours per week performing Level 1 Keeper duties, completion of all Yellow Level 1 classes and certifications, and successful passing of the Map Test.  

LEVEL 2 ADVANCED KEEPER INTERN – YELLOW

Level 2 Advanced Keeper Internships are reserved for interns who showed exceptional skill and ability as a Level 1 Interns. Level 2 Advanced Keeper Interns are eligible to begin training in small cat feeding and operant training (hybrids through lynx). 

Duties: Level 2 Advanced Keeper duties may or may not include Level 1 duties, feeding and operant training with small cats (hybrids through lynx), guiding Feeding Tours, leading projects, training and mentoring Trainees and Level 1 Interns, ensuring intern housing is well maintained and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff.

Time Commitment: 50 hours per week, 600 hours total hours. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals.

Yellow Level 1 Keeper Classes & Certifications

• Small Cat Feeding and Certification

• Small Cat Operant and Certification

• Feeding Tour Guide and Certification

Certification Requirements: Each of the above classes and certifications must be completed in the order as listed before moving on to the next class and certification.  

Advancement: Level 2 Advanced Keeper Interns may request promotion to Level 3 Senior Keeper after having completed the following; 12 consecutive weeks interning a minimum of 50 hours per week performing Level 2 Advanced Keeper duties, completion of all Yellow Level 2 classes and certifications, and successful passing of the Map Test.  

LEVEL 3 SENIOR KEEPER INTERN – GREEN 

Level 3 Senior Keeper Internships are reserved for interns who showed exceptional skill and ability as a Level 2 Interns. Level 3 Senior Keeper Interns are eligible to begin training in big cat cleaning and enrichment (cougars, leopards, lions and tigers). 

Duties: Level 3 Senior Keeper duties may or may not include Level 1 & 2 duties, cleaning and enrichment with big cats (cougars, leopards, lions and tigers), leading projects, training and mentoring Trainees and Level 1 & 2 Interns, and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff. Each household will be assigned one House Leader who is a Level 3 – 5 Intern.  The House Leader will be responsible for; giving new interns the Kitten Nursing Class within their first week of interning, overseeing all of the foster kitten care in their house, serving as the main contact with the Foster Kitten Program Manager and communicating housing needs and issues with the Operations Manager.

Time Commitment: 50 hours per week, 600 hours total hours. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals.

Green Level 3 Senior Keeper Classes & Certifications

• Big Cat Cleaning and Certification

• Big Cat Enrichment and Certification

Certification Requirements: Each of the above classes and certifications must be completed in the order as listed before moving on to the next class and certification.  

Advancement: Level 3 Senior Keeper Interns may request promotion to Level 4 Master Keeper Intern after having completed the following; 12 consecutive weeks interning a minimum of 50 hours per week performing Level 3 Senior Keeper duties, completion of all Green Level 3 classes and certifications, and successful passing of the Map Test.  

LEVEL 4 MASTER KEEPER INTERN – NAVY 

Level 4 Master Keeper Internships are reserved for interns who showed exceptional skill and ability as a Level 3 Interns. Level 4 Master Keeper Interns are eligible to begin training in big cat feeding and operant training (cougars, leopards, lions and tigers), and cleaning of advanced level big cats (Kimba and Manny). 

Duties: Level 4 Master Keeper duties may or may not include Level 1-3 duties, feeding and operant training with big cats (cougars, leopards, lions and tigers), guiding Keeper Tours, leading projects, training and mentoring Trainees and Level 1-3 Interns, assisting with meds preparation and administration and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff.

Time Commitment: 50 hours per week, 600 hours total hours. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals.

Navy Level 4 Master Keeper Classes & Certifications

• Big Cat Feeding and Certification

• Big Cat Operant and Certification

• Keeper Tour Guide and Certification

• Meds Administration (No certification, class for knowledge purposes)

Certification Requirements: Each of the above classes and certifications must be completed in the order as listed before moving on to the next class and certification.  

Advancement: Level 4 Master Keeper Interns may request promotion to Level 5 Keeper Coordinator after having completed the following; 12 consecutive weeks interning a minimum of 50 hours per week performing Level 4 Master Keeper duties, completion of all Navy Level 4 classes and certifications, and successful passing of the Map Test.  

LEVEL 5 KEEPER COORDINATOR INTERN – PURPLE 

Level 5 Keeper Coordinator Internships are reserved for interns who stood out as the best of the best and showed excellent skill and ability as a Level 4 intern. Level 5 Keeper Coordinator Interns are eligible to begin feeding and operant training of advanced level big cats (Kimba and Manny), administering medications, caring for hospitalized cats and coordinating volunteers and interns. 

Duties: Level 5 Keeper Coordinator duties may or may not include Level 1-4 duties, feeding and operant training of advanced level big cats, leading projects, training and mentoring Trainees and Level 1-4 Interns, weekly shift administering medications, caring for hospitalized cats, weekly shift coordinating volunteers and interns, planning and execution of catching a small cat, and presentation lecture on choice of topic. and other tasks assigned by the Coordinators or Staff.

Time Commitment: The duration of the Level 5 Internship is 6 months which includes 7 vacation days or 1 year which includes 14 vacation days. The work schedule for Level 5 Interns is 5 days per week serving a minimum of 50 hours per week. 

Benefits:  A weekly stipend is awarded in the amount of $125 for groceries and incidentals. A travel grant of up to $1,500 for airfare will be awarded to each applicant that is accepted as a Level 5 Keeper Coordinator Intern to cover the cost of transportation to return for the internship.

Purple Level 5 Keeper Coordinator Classes & Certifications

• Meds Administration and Certification

• Hospitalized Cat Care and Certification

• Coordinator Training and Certification

• Rehab Bobcat Care and Certification (availability permitting) 

Certification Requirements: Each of the above classes and certifications must be completed in the order as listed before moving on to the next class and certification.