Wildlife Encounters LLC

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USDA

MASS
RESIDENTS!
Looking for a safe
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program like
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Derek Small Founder & Director
	Zoo Director Derek holds a B.S. in Education from Plymouth State College, where his studies were focused primarily in the areas of higher-vertebrate biology, physiology & nutrition. He is a member of the NH Science Teacher's Association, the Association of Professional Wildlife Educators, and the American Association of Zookeepers. Derek has been working with non-native wildlife since 1993, and is a highly in demand public educator and school guest educator/presenter. Offering live animal and natural science programs has been his full-time occupation since 2002. Derek and/or our animals have appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Fox-25 (Boston), WMUR Channel 9's "NH Chronicle and MCAM TV-23 in Manchester, NH as well as several "local access" TV programs, radio show interviews and media publications. We were also the live-animal provider for the Animal Planet Expo Tour 2008 in Providence, RI, Marshfield, MA and Burlington, VT! Though running the Wildlife Center, overseeing the daily care of over 100+ animals and delivering hundreds of hours of presentations every year is his full-time occupation, Derek is first a husband and father of three girls: Makenzie, Sydney and and Riley. Favorite animal? Avi, the family's pet German Shepherd!
Rebecca (Bekah) Nelson Wildlife Educator
	Facilities Manager Primary presenter for our Zippity-ZOO for Preschools Service Joining the Wildlife Encounters Zoo's Educator Team in the latter part of 2007, Bekah has rapidly become a skilled and highly-in-demand presenter and over time is becoming more skilled at working with and exhibiting our larger and more advanced species! Though not looking even close to 30 years old... Bekah brings a "world of experiences" to our team! She has spent time in many parts of Africa and the Far East studying the cultures, ecologies and wildlife! Formal Education: Rebecca has a B.S. in Animal Sciences & Pre-Veterenary Medicine. Locally, she has worked as a vet-tech, and as a Wildlife Intern and Volunteer at both Charmingfare Farm and NH Audubon. Though her long-term goal continues to be to become a Veterenarian, Bekah is in 2010 taking classes to develop her skills and credentials as a classroom educator, and every day she shows us and her audiences how excited she is to be a part of the Wildlife Encounters Zoo Educational Team!
Tiffanie Meekins Wildlife Educator
	Director of Raptor Program Development Tiffanie holds a double-major B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science from New England College in Henniker, NH. For several years Tiffanie has been volunteering her time to help native wildlife and conducts frequent public educational programs for the Wings of Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary and NH Audubon. She has experience with native raptors, many species of reptiles and exotic cats. Tiffanie has had the INCREDIBLE experience of traveling to Kenya for study... and has traveled to the Rainforest in Costa Rica on multiple occasions. Her most recent trip was with Derek and other Professional Wildlife Educators to the La Selva Biological Research Station, run by the Organization for Tropical Studies.
Sean Kotkowski Wildlife Educator
	Sean is a full-time teacher at Learning Skills Academy in Rye, NHand has a Master’s degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire. He has been working with students and young children for over fifteen years and has been working part-time with Derek and the Wildlife Encounters Zoo staff since 2007. In addition to being a part-time Wildlife Educator, Sean also generously volunteers time in helping-out around our Wildlife Center! When working with the Wildlife Encounters Zoo Sean lives his dream of being able to combine his education and experience with his passion for Earth's creatures! MOST IMPORTANTLY - Sean recently became a dad! Sean and his wife Jaime were thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter Margaret (Maggie) who was born in August 2009!
Lindsay Gorgone Wildlife Educator
	Lindsay is a 2009 Graduate from the University of New Hampshire. We will get a picture and more complete biography for Lindsay posted soon.
Karen Haines Wildlife Educator
	Karen has over 12 years of Docent Wildlife Educator experience with a variety of professional entities and nature centers. She is excited to be a part of our Educator Team for the 2010 Summer Season. Karen is happily marries, has two beautiful daughters and lives in Barrington, NH
Erica Jacobus Wildlife Educator
	Summer Educator. Erica is fantastic and is doing a lot of the work for our contract with canobie Lake Park! Bio coming soon!
Elizabeth Racine Animal Keeper
	Liz is a Rochester resident and works several days per week in our Wildlife Sanctuary performing the essential tasks necessary to keep our facilities ready for USDA inspection, and our animals well!
Matt McFarlin Animal Keeper
	Matt issists with routine care and husbandry as well as assisting with enclosure-building and upgrading, property and facilities maintenance, etc. Matt is a Dover, NH resident preparing to continue his higher education in the field of conservation and research.
Internship Opportunities
	Internships at the Wildlife Encounters Zoo are an exciting way to gain experience in public speaking, education, and working in a Zoological setting. Interns work side by side with our professional Wildlife Educators performing routine in-house Keeper tasks, record keeping, and assisting in public presentations and exhibits. Interns will receive training, and as their skill and understanding of the job responsibility increases, they will be given greater responsibility and the opportunity to present entry-level presentations independantly. Interns are expected to be highly motivated, reliable and able to work independently. Internships are non-paid positions. Interns are required to provide reliable transportation, a clean driving record, be able to pass a CORI criminal background) check, and have a cell phone.