teen career conference
Learn how to translate your passion for animals and wildlife into a career at the Phoenix Zoo’s Teen Career Conference! This event is geared towards teens, grades 9-12 and their educational support networks (parents, educators, career/college counselors, etc.) who are interested in exploring different careers in the world of animal and conservation science. Attendees will experience what it is like to attend a professional conference and engage in a variety of activities, including:
- Hearing from specially selected speaker panels comprised of a range of experts in zoology, conservation, animal husbandry and veterinary care working both within the Zoo and in the field. Speakers will offer insights into their career paths and provide advice on breaking into their respective fields.
- Networking with representatives from the Phoenix Zoo and other organizations and educational institutions to learn about their programs and opportunities for teens.
- Learning about the various careers at the Phoenix Zoo through an interactive guided tour around Zoo grounds led by our professional Zoo educators.
- Attending a professional skill-building workshop on how to write resumes and cover letters, and how to successfully interview for the job of your dreams.
Event Details
Date:
February 8, 2025
Location:
Phoenix Zoo
Time:
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Price:
$30 in-person
$5 virtual access to recorded content of the event
Registration closes January 27, 2025!
Optional Add-On:
Join us for a Post-Conference Kickback Party from 4 – 7 p.m. for an additional $15/person. The Kickback Party will include dinner, lawn games and other activities so you can bond with your new network!
Agenda
8 – 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and Animal Ambassadors
8:30 – 9 a.m. – Welcome and Keynote Speech
9 – 10 a.m. – Wild Work: Insights from Phoenix Zoo Professionals Speaker Panel
10 – 11:30 a.m. – Careers in Action Guided Tours
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch and Exhibit Hall Opens
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. – Expanding Horizons: External Experts Speaker Panel
1:45 – 2:15 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Break
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. – Preparing for Your Journey: Skill-Building Workshop
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Break
3:45 – 4 p.m. – Closing Remarks
4 – 7 p.m. – Optional Post-Conference Kickback Party
*Advanced registration required
Thank you to our sponsors!
The event is geared towards teens in grades 9-12 and their educational support networks (parents, educators, career/college counselors, etc.) but other ages/groups are allowed to attend. Any attendees younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. All attendees must have a ticket.
If your child is aged 14 or older you may drop them off and pick them up at the end of the event. Any participants ages 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult who must also purchase a ticket. Phoenix Zoo staff or volunteers will be stationed outside the main gate monitoring drop off and pick up. All participants who are not attending the Post-Conference Kickback Party must be picked up from the Phoenix Zoo no later than 5 p.m. when the Phoenix Zoo closes.
Yes. The registration cost includes a continental-style breakfast during check-in from 8 – 8:30 a.m. and a boxed lunch. Please list any dietary restrictions on your registration form.
Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally yet comfortably. We will be enjoying a guided walking tour as part of the conference and attendees are encouraged to wear shoes that are comfortable for walking in. We are striving to make this a “green event” and encourage attendees to bring a reusable water bottle.
You will enter the Zoo through the main entrance across the long wooden bridge. Please don’t forget to bring your PDF ticket which is attached to your email confirmation – this is your ticket to the event and will be scanned at turnstiles. Check-in will run from 8 – 8:30 a.m. and after you enter the Zoo, you will be directed to the Neely Events venue.
We are inviting local organizations and educational institutions to have a table to share with attendees more about their organization and the opportunities they have available. This is a great opportunity to network with like-minded organizations to see how and where to get involved!
You will get to meet some of our Ambassador Animals during check-in from 8 – 8:30 a.m. Attendees will also participate in a guided walking tour around the Zoo where they will have an opportunity to meet some of the amazing animals that call the Phoenix Zoo home.
The virtual ticket includes access to digital recordings of the welcome and keynote speech, speaker panels and closing remarks. The digital recording will be made available approximately one week after the event.
This is a fun, low-key experience that takes place right after the conference concludes at 4 p.m. and is an opportunity for conference attendees to continue networking and hangout with their new friends. Our Trailbazers Youth Advisory Council is planning this event and will include a buffet dinner, lawn games and other activities. Tickets are $15/person.
We are currently looking for donors and sponsors for this event. If you are interested in being considered for financial assistance if some becomes available, please email outreach@phoenixzoo.org
We understand that large events can feel overwhelming at times. To support attendees with sensory needs, we will provide a designated quiet sensory room where participants can step away to recharge. Additionally, our KultureCity sensory bags, which include items like fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and other resources, will be available at check-in. These resources are designed to ensure all attendees have a comfortable and enjoyable experience at the conference.
Refunds can be obtained until January 25, 2025 (two weeks prior to the event). There are no refunds for “no-shows”.
