Internship#13

Choice 2: A process at my Internship
1. Making the diets. First, Ed (the animal keeper) and I must make the diets to feed the animals. This is the day feed. There are different animals that get fed at different times. Here he is cutting up different veggies to feed to the various birds at the ranch.

2. Feeding the animals. Now, normally you would just place the dish in the cage and let the animal eat; but this baby andean condor needs to be hand fed to learn people are good, and to be tame around people. Hence, why Im holding a rat while the condor rips its guts out. This is actually really fun. Now, the condor could easily rip my fingers off, but she doesnt. Shes really gentle and sweet.

3. Dishes. Yay! Best part of the day. (Not) Well, after we feed the animals we collect old bowls of theirs, and we clean them. We have to soak them in bleach water for ten minutes, by law, and then wash them by hand. Which is what I did.

Internship#12

Part 1: Documenting collaboration

Part 2: Writing about collaboration

Directly, I work with at least two people. With my mentor in her office, and with the animal keepers. Indirectly I probably affect a good amount of people, with helping with projects to educate the public, helping feed animals that get shown to people.

One thing I do that I collaborate with others is making food for the animals. I help the animal keepers make the diets, feed the animals, and clean the cage.

Internship#11

The highlights were just having fun, being with animals and working on my project. the challenges would be the pouring rain that was extremely dangerous and scary to drive in, and that almost flooded the ranch. The most memorable part would probably be when i fed the porcupine all by myself. it was scary, and intimidating because she is a hog when it comes to her food, and you have to call her bluff to put the dish down.

Internship#9

Mentor Background Information:

Joan Embery is San Diego native and has always had a knack for animals.
She studied zoology and telecommunications and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. She is known for her work with exotic animals, and while working at the zoo, used to go on TV on shows such as Johnny Carson's and show animals like baby gorillas and orangutans. In 2004 she created her own non-profit foundation, The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation, with the mission of connecting people to wildlife and conservation issues and the role each individual plays in insuring healthy environments. To this day, she shares her experiences and passion for animals with personal accounts and anecdotes. She maintains a collection of wildlife ambassadors that travel with her representing the animal world and helping to educate her audiences.

Internship#7

Project Description:

Internship site: Pillsbury Ranch with Joan Embery

Project Title: Animal Ambassadors and Ranch Photobooks

General Description: I am putting together photobooks for the ranch to showcase the animal ambassadors and the ranch itself.

Learning Objectives: becoming better with iPhoto, getting to know the ranch animals and the ranch.

Organization/Company Objectives & Benefits: having a book to show people who visit the ranch, people who want an event at the ranch and so on.

Technical Skills: Use of iPhoto, typing, knowing different pograms and knowing how to use an iMac.

Internship#8

Choice A:

In all of the people I work with and see at internship, i see a lot of different qualities that i would love to gain. Things like ambitiousness. You need to be ambitious to get through this work, and you cant give up. you have to go for the gold, and have the end in mind or you wont get anywhere.
The guy who feeds and cares for the animals, Ed, is a really great guy. Not only does he love what he does, but hes good at it, and has been doing it for over 35 years of his life. he knows so much about every animal and plant there is, he might talk my ear off, but i respect how ambitious and loving he is. I want to strive to be like Ed because he will go out in pouring rain, in snow, and in floods, to be with those animals. he puts himself second for them, and i really like the qualities that make him that way.

Internship #3

I went home sick early this day, and Ive been gone all week with a nasty virus. My project is to make at least one photobook for the ranch, be it of the ranch and what it offers, or the animal ambassadors at the ranch.

1. What skills would you like to develop at your site?

I would love to be able to grow skills in handling animals.

2. What interests do you have regarding the work done at your site?

Ive been hands on with animals, which has really been cool for me. Ive been able to continue training a llama at the ranch.

3. What needs can you address (needs your mentor has, your company has, etc.) based on your skills and interests?

I can help her with computer things because she is technologically not advanced, so I can help with that.

Internship #2

What have you actively done to start off on the right note?

I have been willing to do anything. From cleaning cages to helping my mentor with computer things, I will be able to use all of the skills I have to complete any task she may throw at me.

What have you actively done to create interesting opportunities for yourself?

Ive volunteered with feeding animals, cleaning cages, and taking out/handling animals to get a feel for getting to work with animals all the time.

What have you actively done to advance the interests of your mentor and/or site?

She doesnt have all that much money to spend on paid help, so me being willing to do anything, for free, is an even bigger plus for her. Ive actually doe anything I could get my hands on, from computer help to animals.

What can you do in the immediate future to improve yourself and your experience in the above areas?

Always be willing to try something new instead of just giving up right off the bat.

Internship #1

1. Workspace. There are two because when I am working I will sometimes be inside in the office, and other times I will be wandering the ranch doing work.

2. Dress. If I were to look professional, I would ruin all my clothes. Meet Joan Embery. Shes my mentor. This is typical dress at where I work.

3. Work I do. Some of the work I did was sorting pictures on a whim. We had to find a picture that was from 20 years ago, and also, I train this llama. The llama is still young, and needs to be walked, and calm around people, so I take him/her on walks to calm the llama down for when it grows to be full size.

4. Something that struck me. This mountain lion, if it was wild, could easily tear me apart. But this big cat is lovable. He rubbed his head against the fence so I would pet him. Its crazy to see how exotic animals such as Mugger can be so tame and friendly.

5. Interesting experience. Has a cheetah ever licked your hand? Enough said. Cramer, this lovable male cheetah purrs at me, and licks my hand when I stick it out. I think thats pretty dang interesting.

My Day:

My mom woke me up. So excited for the day, I jumped out of bed and dressed in some jeans and a flannel type shirt. I drove about 30 or so minutes to Lakeside, where I pet Eeyore the donkey and the horses until Joan was out in the trailer/office, which is when I went to her. I did a lot of different things throughout the beginning of the day. Then after lunch, I went over to Ed, the handler/feeder of the animals. Not only did he take me around to some animals, I got to help feed some like the Aardvark, the Cheetahs, the Mountain Lion, and others. After loosing track of time and hurriedly rounding up some animals, I finally left, after a long 7-hour work day. Now, to get the the ranch in Lakeside, I go straight up the 8 to the 67, then turn right and left, and Im there. There was no traffic there, or on the way back. It was a breeze. Probably the most fun was getting to know my mentor, and having fun with the animals. I think I can tackle anything thrown at me, and Im not really all that nervous. Even petting the 8-month-old vulture wasnt nerve racking! I am so excited for these 3 weeks. I know I will have a blast, and Im lucky to have gotten this opportunity with the one and only Joan Embery.